Ludhiana: A major infrastructure overhaul at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) has officially broken ground, but the university has been forced to shift gears on its 16-kilometre road-widening project following an outcry from environmentalists and students.Work commenced this week at Gate No. 2, where crews have begun dismantling footpaths to expand the thoroughfare to 50 feet. However, the university confirmed it has abandoned plans to achieve a uniform 50-foot width across the entire campus. The decision came after protesters flagged that dozens of mature trees would have to be axed to accommodate the original design beyond the Kisan Mela Ground.In a rare victory for campus activists, PAU authorities reviewed the technical blueprints and resolved to “balance development with conservation.” Under the revised plan, the stretch from the new square to Golden Jubilee Chowk will now be limited to 40 feet, ensuring the campus’s established green cover remains intact.“We decided against cutting any trees,” said PAU Estate Officer Dr Rishi Indra Singh Gill. “The road width along this specific stretch will be restricted to 40 feet instead of the proposed 50 feet.”
