Shastri Nagar residents allege ‘selective approach’ in blacktopping of roads

JAMMU: Residents of Shastri Nagar, Nanak Nagar and adjoining areas are up in arms against the R&B Department and local BJP MLA for allegedly having a “selective approach” in carrying out blacktopping of roads.

A potholed road at Shastri Nagar in Jammu. Tribune photo: A Singh

Tribune News Service

Jammu, December 1

Residents of Shastri Nagar, Nanak Nagar and adjoining areas are up in arms against the R&B Department and local BJP MLA for allegedly having a “selective approach” in carrying out blacktopping of roads.

Despite the process initiated across the city, the main road in Shastri Nagar is in a deplorable condition and awaiting repairs. Incidentally, MLA Kavinder Gupta, who is also the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, represents the constituency. He won the seat after defeating two-time Congress MLA Raman Bhalla during the 2014 elections.

Traders in the Nanak Nagar locality had recently protested against damaged roads and drains in the area and failure of civic bodies to repair the infrastructure. They had alleged that the focus of the MLA was mainly on the posh Gandhi Nagar area, while rest of the residential colonies were being discriminated against.

“See the condition of the main and interior roads of Shastri Nagar. It exposes the working of the administration. We have made several requests to civic bodies to repair the damaged roads, but nothing has been done,” said Kishore Sharma, a local resident.

The total road length in the city is 704 km and per kilometre density of vehicles is about 570, but travelling is a nightmarish experience due to the condition of the road network. After the devastating floods in September 2014 the R&B Department started the blacktopping in several parts of the city, but Shastri Nagar, Nanak Nagar and some of the colonies on the outskirts are waiting for their turn.

“For a common man, travel has become a life and death struggle. Dilapidated roads not only damage vehicles, but at times put the life of drivers at risk,” said Abinav Sharma, an engineering student.

The drivers of commercial vehicles say that apart from disrupting smooth flow of traffic, it has put financial burden on commuters, as they have to spend more on the maintenance of vehicles which get damaged while plying on these bad roads.

At times cars, vehicles and mini-buses suffer major damage and their drivers receive injuries while plying on the roads which are just a pile of dust and stones.