Road network in Jammu sees no improvement since 2014 elections

Sumit Hakhoo
Tribune News Service
Jammu, April 17

No matter if people in Jammu enthusiastically vote in parliamentary and Assembly elections, the road network in the region is in a shambles irrespective of who comes to power.

At a time when the entire administrative machinery is engaged in the election process and political leaders are leaving no stone unturned to sell dreams to “gullible voters”, the roads in Jammu continue to be a nightmarish experience for travellers.

Nothing has changed since 2014 when the country went to polls, especially in Jammu city, the winter capital of J&K. It is estimated that the total road length in Jammu district, inhabited by 15 lakh people, is 5,000 km which includes the core city roads of 700 km. Poor blacktopping works, repeated digging by telecom and other line departments and corruption-ridden process under which the roads and buildings department gives contracts continue to create a dreadful situation.

“We break the voting record in every election in the hope that the next government will do better but there is no improvement in basic infrastructure. The present situation is no better than previous years,” said Shamsher Jamwal, a resident of Bohri.

In most of the localities like Nagrota, Bantalab, Muthi, Talab Tillo, Bohri, Shastri Nagar, Satwari and Narwal, the main roads as well as those in the interiors are in a dilapidated condition.

“There have been several instances of people getting injured as their two-wheelers skidded off,” said Kishori Lal Sharma, a resident of Satwari.

Chief Engineer, roads and buildings department, Nasir Goni said blacktopping works would be started soon. “Roads get damaged due to civic works. We cannot stop any department to carry out any repair to their infrastructure,” he said.