Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, July 16: Residents of Drangbal and nearby areas in North Kashmir’s Baramulla district expressed concerns over the use of sub-standard material in the repair of a 6-kilometer road from Azadgunj to Khadniyar, constructed under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) scheme in 2018.
According to the residents, despite a significant allocation of significant funds by the government for the construction of the road, its condition remained deplorable, leading to accidents and causing immense inconvenience to commuters.
“They are not constructing the road properly as the substandard material used for blacktopping the road does not hold up for long as the patches quickly get damaged,” a resident said, adding that a thorough investigation should be carried out into the construction work and action taken against the responsible contractors.
One resident pointed out that the road, which was crucial for accessing the popular eco-park, had been built under the centrally funded PMGSY scheme in 2018, with an estimated cost of around 7.8 crore rupees. However, within a year, the road’s surface deteriorated and developed potholes at various locations. Click here to watch video
“The road is currently under liability period (DLP), and during this period, they have only been carrying out patchwork instead of properly reconstructing the damaged stretches. They simply spread the material without following the appropriate procedure,” he said.
The dire state of the road caused injuries to commuters as well. A commuter, who had his arm tied to his shoulder due to an injury, shared that he fell into one of the patches and broke his arm while traveling on the road.
“If they had constructed the road properly, I would not have fallen from my bike and sustained this injury. They are not doing the patchwork correctly,” he said.
The residents said that despite their pleas, the concerned authorities and district administration failed to address the problem. The residents appealed, to L G Manoj Sinha, for intervention and proper maintenance of the road.
The executive engineer of PMGSY Baramulla, Ashiq Hussain Malik, acknowledged the road’s maintenance issues. He attributed the damage to stone quarries and water leakage, “the ongoing repairs are being conducted to address the problems,” he said.
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