Road repairs, being undertaken in preparation for the 2.5 to 3 million devotees expected at the Ganga Mela, are reportedly falling victim to corruption. An MLA has expressed anger over the use of substandard materials in the repair of Mela Road, a key route for the Kartik Purnima Ganga bathing fair.

Work for the fair is often carried out only when little time remains. This year, District Magistrate Abhishek Pandey’s intention to beautify the fair is reportedly not coming to fruition.

The neglect is long-standing. A five-kilometre stretch of Meerut Road has been riddled with potholes for five years. Mela Road, which connects a population of about 40,000 across two districts, has been in a dilapidated condition for a year. The route is so poor that reaching the MLA's own farmhouse involves a difficult journey through potholes, and the hardship faced by hundreds of schoolchildren is described as significant.

When repair work on Mela Road finally commenced, the corruption was exposed. MLA Harendra Singh Teotia strongly reprimanded those involved, expressing anger over the use of substandard materials.

Also Read: Delhi Fire: 5 Tenders Rush To Building Near Rashtrapati Bhavan, Blaze Doused In 20 Mins

"Substandard material was being used to repair Mela Road, a route used by hundreds of thousands of vehicles," Teotia stated, asserting that "substandard material will not be tolerated" and "substandard work will not be allowed."

Also Read: Prashant Kishor Alleges 'BJP Pressure' After 3 JSP Candidates Withdraw Nomination Ahead Of Bihar Polls