Full of potholes, Jammu roads await urgent repair, black-topping

Only VIP roads being taken better care

Gopal Sharma

JAMMU, Aug 4: Having suffered extensive damage due to recent rains, the roads in Jammu with innumerable potholes await urgent repair and black–topping work to ease traffic and public movement.

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Not only roads in Jammu City are in worst condition but the lanes and many drains have also suffered damages. Despite this all, the JKUT Government appears to have gone to hibernation, without caring for the sufferings of the citizens here. The general public alleged that the roads where movement of the VIPs is frequent, are being taken care of by the concerned R&B Division or Sub Division officials, while others are being ignored on various pretexts like rains or non-availability of funds.

Much worst is the condition of roads in Jammu North and West, where Monsoon rains have caused much devastation. Road surface has been broken at many places and large and deep potholes have been developed. The daily road users/ commuters are facing problems. The smooth movement of vehicles has been badly hit. It is also causing frequent road accidents. The public is raising hue and cry and demanding immediate repair of broken roads and lanes but accountability seems to be missing in JKUT.

While the road from Janipur-Ban Talab and up to Kot Bhalwal is facing worst kind of neglect, the roads from Rehari Chungi- Sarwal, Rehari, Subash Nagar, Patoli Magotirian-Janipur link, Ploura, Top Sher Khanian and Top Puli is equally neglected by the R&B/JMC authorities. Dozens of lanes have been damaged but the JMC authorities have yet to initiate any repair work.

Janipur-Bhawani Nagar, Naseeb Nagar, Janipur- Patoli and Top Puli roads which were damaged by the PHE authorities for laying pipes about two years ago, were not repaired till date despite the fact that PHE/ Jal Shakti City Division authorities claim to have deposited money with the JMC. Even the main road along Janipur-Chinore and Bantalab which was dug about eight months ago by an agency was not properly dressed up or repaired. Indira Colony, Naseeb Nagar, Shant Nagar lanes, Janipur Colony, Lower Roopnagar, and Muthi lanes and drains are extensively damaged. But there seems to be no accountability.

Similar is the condition in Old City, Circular road, Bakshi Nagar, Shakti Nagar, Rajpura, Nanak Nagar, Shastri Nagar, Bahu Fort, Gorkha Nagar and Bhathindi.

The people said that MLAs concerned are hardly visible in the area while former Corporators claimed they have no powers. The long delay in Corporation elections is said to be responsible for delay in such works. The people alleged that even after several complaints nobody turns to repair street lights. The system seems to have collapsed, they allege. They said their lanes and drains are damaged and no repair work is being taken up since long.

Parshotam Gupta, a social activist from Janipur said that earlier, before 2019 when there was Darbar Move system, all the roads and lanes were used to be repaired/ blacktopped in Jammu City. The dividers and vital city points used to be painted. The City beautification work used to be initiated from Mid September. These days the so called ‘Smart City’ has been left to face worst kind of neglect.

R L Raina from Bakshi Nagar said that R&B authorities must properly repair at least BC Road and the main Janipur-Ban Talab- Raipur Road stretch on priority.

Chief Engineer R&B Jammu Rajesh Agastam when contacted said that it will be difficult to give the number of the damaged roads, but he claimed that the damaged roads are generally repaired immediately after damage by the concerned Divisions and Sub Divisions.

Agastam claimed that tenders for the repair and blacktopping of various Jammu City roads have been called and as the rainy season is over, the work will be started. Similarly, the repair/maintenance work on the rural roads will also be launched after rains, the Chief Engineer added.