Residents protest over poor condition of Pathan Morh road

*Demand immediate macadamization

Excelsior Correspondent

RAJOURI, July 7: Residents of Ward No. 14, Pathan Morh in Rajouri town on Tuesday staged a protest against the poor condition of the road in the area, demanding its immediate repair and macadamization.

A large number of locals gathered at the site and raised slogans against the concerned department, expressing resentment over the delay in road repair works. Among those who participated in the protest were Anjum Kausar, Javed Khan, Abdul Rashid and several other residents.

The protesters alleged that despite repeated requests to the authorities, no effective steps had been taken to improve the condition of the road, forcing them to launch the protest. And now during rainy season, the road will further suffer damages.

The residents expressed concern that if macadamization work is not taken up without further delay, the road will continue to deteriorate, causing inconvenience to commuters and resulting in the wastage of public funds on temporary repairs. They stressed the need for durable and quality construction to ensure the road remains in good condition for years to come.

They also called for the use of high-quality construction materials in accordance with prescribed standards.

While issuing warning if the intensified agitation, the protesters said they would launch a larger protest if their genuine demands are not addressed at the earliest.

When contacted, PMGSY Executive Engineer, Shahid Mustafa said that the contractor has been issued strict directions to commence the work without delay. He assured that the contractor’s bill would not be released unless the work meets the prescribed quality standards. He further stated that the macadamization work will begin soon.