Mohali, May 23 -- Mohali's potholes, dug-up stretches, and battered internal roads have driven their way back into the political spotlight, emerging as a critical battleground issue ahead of the May 26 municipal corporation (MC) elections. While the Congress won the majority in the 2021 elections-only to see shifting political alignments later-and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) currently governs the state, residents argue that the political party at the helm matters little when the ground reality remains unchanged. Despite assurances four years ago, damaged road surfaces, waterlogging, missing pedestrian infrastructure, and traffic chaos continue to define the daily commute. During the previous election, major parties promised a comprehensive urban makeover: Smooth road surfaces, cleared road gullies to prevent monsoon flooding, underground parking facilities, cycling tracks, a public bicycle system, a local bus service, and flyovers at the bottleneck Airport Road traffic lights. Today, residents point out that these ambitious projects remained confined to manifestos. The reality on Mohali's streets is a frustrating cycle of chaos. This is the most visible across the high-density commercial and residential heart of the city, including Phase 3B1, Phase 4, Phase 7, Phase 10, andPhase 11. The vital stretch from Phase 7 to Phase 5, which serves as a central economic artery, frequently develops potholes even after repeated repairs. Commuters allege that heavy traffic combined with recurring utility digging causes the road to break down almost immediately after being fixed. Local shopkeepers report skidding incidents and minor accidents whenever the surface worsens, while motorists face mounting bills for damaged tyres, suspensions, and shock absorbers. Similarly, cracks and uneven patches routinely reappear near Chawla Chowk in Phase 7. Residents blame a mix of poor-quality material, shoddy patchwork, and a lack of departmental coordination, noting that roads repaired only months ago are routinely dug up again for sewer or pipeline work. This lack of maintenance has escalated from a daily nuisance into a road safety hazard. On March 2 this year, a 46-year-old Nayagaon resident was killed when a speeding BMW rammed into an auto-rickshaw near Stadium Road in Phase 9. A police investigation revealed that the auto-rickshaw driver was trying to manoeuvre an uneven stretch of road moments before the fatal collision. The tragedy, which left several others injured, highlighted the absence of road safety measures on a busy city corridor. Between May 1, 2025 and May 22, 2026, Mohali recorded 308 accident deaths, according to data provided by superintendent of police, traffic. Encroachments on footpaths and markets by shopkeepers have virtually eliminated pedestrian spaces, forcing people to walk on busy roads. Poor parking management, missing lane markings, and lax enforcement compound the problem. Even Airport Road - once projected as Mohali's flagship urban corridor - now routinely witnesses congestion, waterlogging, and treacherous driving conditions during the rains. Residents argue that rapid urban expansion has outpaced supporting infrastructure like drainage and public transport. Traffic expert Harpreet Singh said Mohali's roads need to become more pedestrian-friendly rather than being designed only for vehicles. "A city's roads should be accessible to everyone. Even a person on a wheelchair should be able to cross the road safely and without fear. Proper footpaths, signage and pedestrian crossings are essential," he said. He also stressed the need for dedicated children's traffic parks to educate youngsters about road safety rules from an early age. "If we train children early, we can build a generation that respects traffic discipline and road safety," he added. In January 2026, the Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) proposed the Mohali Next Generation Roads Programme to upgrade and maintain 83.4km of city roads. While initially pegged at Rs.830 crore, the tender shot up to Rs.912 crore. Though a letter of award was recently issued to a private developer, the project has largely remained on paper due to legal hurdles and political backlash. Residents say the prolonged friction between outgoing Mohali mayor Amarjeet Singh Sidhu of the Congress and MLA Kulwant Singh of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) hampered development works in the city, with political differences allegedly affecting civic coordination and project execution. Many key works remained delayed as both leaders publicly blamed each other for administrative inaction. "Whenever residents raised civic issues, the mayor would blame the MLA instead of finding solutions. Their tussle only madecitizens suffer," said a resident. The Punjab government's decision to bring rapidly developing areas such as Aerocity, IT City, Sectors 81 and 82, along with several adjoining villages, under the jurisdiction of the Mohali MC ahead of elections has increased the civic body's burden. These areas were previously managed by the GMADA, but according to the MC, they have been transferred without adequate municipal-level infrastructure such as properly maintained roads, drainage systems and other civic amenities. Officials had argued that the handover has placed additional financial and administrative pressure on the MC, which is already struggling. During the General House meeting held in January, the MC passed a resolution demanding at least Rs.1,000 crore from GMADA to bridge these infrastructure gaps before formally taking over records andresponsibilities. Earlier, the MC area, including villages under its limits, had a total road network of 303.44 km, of which around 101 km were categorised as C-roads. Following the expansion, the total road length and maintenance responsibility increased considerably. Over the last four financial years, the MC has spent Rs.18 crore on road infrastructure and pedestrian development works....