The Public Action Committee (PAC), Ludhiana, has raised serious concerns over alleged negligence, safety lapses and possible financial irregularities in the elevated road project on NH-95 from Samrala Chowk to the Octroi Post. The committee has questioned the decision of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to declare the project “complete” despite what it termed as major defects.Addressing mediapersons, PAC members said around 15 lives have already been lost on this stretch, which they claimed were not mere accidents but the result of poor planning and execution. They alleged that key safety features, including median crash barriers, have not been installed, even though these were part of the original project plan.Kapil Arora and Jaskirat Singh said reports of payments being released for works that have not been executed point towards possible financial irregularities. They demanded an immediate probe into the matter.Kuldeep Singh Khaira and Mohit Saggar highlighted that the condition of edge crash barriers was poor, with some already damaged. They also pointed out that several reinforced earth (RE) walls near the Verka Milk Plant ramps appeared tilted, raising concerns about structural safety. The drainage system was also found to be inadequate, with blocked drains and water flowing onto the road, increasing the risk of accidents.Raising environmental concerns, the members said poorly designed recharge wells could allow contaminants such as oil and debris to seep into groundwater. They also alleged that illegal advertisements installed along the stretch were distracting drivers.Gurpreet Singh said maintenance of the elevated road was lacking despite heavy public spending. They added that the absence of noise barriers in a densely populated area showed disregard for environmental norms.The PAC further alleged that NHAI was preparing a fresh estimate for installing median crash barriers, which were already included in the original contract, raising concerns over duplication of expenditure.The committee has filed a complaint with the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, seeking an independent technical, structural and financial audit of the project. It has also demanded a time-bound inquiry to fix responsibility on officials and the contractor, along with strict action, including recovery of funds and blacklisting.Despite repeated attempts, project director Priyanka Meena was not available for comments.