‘Jammu Smart City’ turns into ‘City of Potholes’
Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, Oct 26: The ‘Jammu Smart City’ has virtually turned into the ‘City of Potholes’, as the concerned R&B authorities have failed to initiate repair and macadamization work of the many roads in Jammu City and other adjoining rural areas.
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While the repair and blacktopping of some of the VIP roads in the winter capital has remained priority of the authorities here, many other roads have been facing neglect. Even after two months of the rainy season, the City roads are facing neglect and Government apathy. The protests by the public for want of repair and macadamization of broken roads and appeals through the media have hardly any impact on the people at the ‘helm of affairs’. The voice of their elected representatives also seems to be going unheard.
Scores of roads in Jammu City and adjoining rural belt await urgent repair and blacktopping work after extensive damage suffered during this rainy season. Not only roads in Jammu City are in worst condition but the lanes and many drains have also suffered damages. The JMC authorities also need equal attention.
Worst is the condition of Channi-Chowadi Road, Janipur- Bana Talab-Gharota Road, Belicharana-Raipur Satwari-Chatha Road, Digiana -Jeevan Nagar Road, Hakkal, Phallian Mandal, Gole Gujral, Bhagwati Nagar, Muthi, Paloura, Bahu Fort, Bathindi and Circluar Road of Old City. Even the condition of several roads in Sarwal, Old Rehari, Gujjar Nagar, Industrial area Gangyal, Digiana, Trikuta Nagar, Gandhinagar, Shastrinagar, Greater Kailash, Sainik Colony Ext, Jogi Gate Shamshan Ghat Road, is not good.
Official sources said that earlier, during the time of Darbar Move, the J&K Government used to provide about Rs 25 to 30 crores for the blacktopping/repair/ beautification of Jammu City roads, but this time even less than Rs 10 crores have been sanctioned for the City roads here.
After the creation of three R&B Zones including Jammu R&B Zone (Including Jammu-Samba-Kathua), Chenab Zone and Pir Panjal Zone the funds are being equally divided into three zones not on the basis of road length in each zone. This has caused uneven distribution of funds. Jammu R&B Zone having road length of about 7000 kms, is also getting the funds equal to Chenab Zone which have 2400 kms road length and Pir Panjal Zone having 4600 kms road length. For the macadamization of one km road length, Rs 20 lakhs are needed. This unfair and unjustified distribution of funds for road maintenance has also caused serious impact on the maintenance and repair of the City roads. For the last few years, Rajouri and Poonch are getting `focused attention’ due to the unknown reasons, sources added.
Sources further revealed that the delay in the repair and macadamization of roads is the non-availability of funds with the respective R&B Divisions. Now some Rs 5-7 crores have been made available in some divisions and the work has started in some city areas, with much thrust on VIP roads, sources said.
The Monsoon rains have caused much devastation this time. Road surfaces have 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 also caused road accidents. The public is raising issue and demanding immediate repair of the broken roads and lanes but the Administration lacks accountability.
Purshotam Dutt, a social activity from Janipur said that earlier, before 2019 when there was Darbar Move system, all the roads and lanes were used to be 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. But after 2019, the old system has been abolished and the so called ‘Smart City’ has been left to face worst kind of neglect. The neglect is being faced by the people of Jammu, Dutt asserted.
Chief Engineer, R&B Jammu, Rajesh Gupta when contacted said that they have received some funds for the maintenance and blacktopping of the roads in Jammu. He said macadamization work has started in Rehari, Subashnagar and some more areas of Jammu West. The work in other areas is also being launched within day or two. In Jammu North areas, PHE officials had sought some time for initiating repair work on the water pipes. The work on Janipur-Ban Talab road is also being started within couple of days. The contract of several roads have been allotted and we plan to complete maximum city roads in less than one month with the available funds.
Replying to a question, Gupta admitted little delay in the release of funds but said they have received Rs 48 cores for the maintenance/ blacktopping of roads in Jammu, Samba and Kathua. He said many rural roads are also in bad shape and R&B plans to maintain maximum roads by December 15.
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