Excelsior Correspondent
RAMBAN, Sept 19: Residents of various parts of Ramban district particularly Marog, Digdol, Magarkote and Ramsu have expressed concern over substandard and incomplete road maintenance work being carried out on National Highway-44 (NH-44), specifically in Marog and Digdol stretches.
Despite ongoing efforts by the authorities and contractors to carry out the repair work on the highway, locals claim that quality of the work is poor and several critical safety issues remain unaddressed.
A local driver from Ramsu claimed the use of stone and gravel to fill potholes as a temporary and ineffective fix and said that such materials deteriorate quickly under heavy vehicular load and harsh weather leading to recurring damage and within days.
More locals of the area informed that the repaired patches remain uneven, making it hazardous for two-wheelers and vehicles with low ground clearance.
“This unevenness, combined with highway’s sharp curves and slopes increases the risk of accidents,” they maintained adding: “A large portion of the highway is still under repair and many areas have been left partially complete for days or even weeks which has led to massive inconvenience, particularly for locals who rely on the highway for daily travel.”
The locals further informed that the road work in the affected areas is reportedly being handled by companies like ICT, Tata CAI JV, Nirman Vridhi Constructions India LLP, Shri Shivendra Infrastructure Private Limited and demanded that NHAI and the local administration should hold these contractors accountable.
The people of the affected areas have appealed to the district administration and highway authorities to use good quality material for road construction, ensure even surfacing of roads, complete the work on priority basis, install adequate safety signage and barriers in the work zones.
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