Despite investments, problem of potholed roads persist
Potholed roads remained a significant problem for commuters, despite crores of rupees being allocated for their repair and maintenance. While urban areas received more attention, rural districts continued to face problem.
According to sources in the Municipal Corporation Faridabad (MCF), almost 70 to 80 per cent of internal roads in urban sectors had been paved with ready mix concrete (RMC). However, many colonies still await proper infrastructure. The MCF is increasingly opting for tile repairs on damaged roads; however, about a quarter of the total area within civic limit remained neglected. Around 80 recently regularised colonies could not get basic amenities.
“Poor quality work, along with outdated stormwater and sewage systems, leads to frequent road breakdowns that require constant repairs,” said Deepak Chaudhary, a former Municipal Corporator. The Faridabad Metropolitan Development Authority (FMDA), responsible for maintaining roads wider than 30 metres, has addressed some problems; however, concerns about road quality persisted. Varun Sheokand, a resident who has raised complaints with authorities, noted many roads showed signs of deterioration.
The MCF allocated Rs 30 to 40 crore for internal street repairs in the 2024-25 financial year, with a similar budget spent in the previous year too. Of the city’s 2,300 km of roads, only 400 km are attended to annually. Meanwhile, the FMDA spent around Rs 125 crore over the last two years to maintain wider roads.
The Public Works Department (PWD), responsible for rural roads, spent Rs 300 crore in the last two years, maintaining 450 km annually. The department has a budget of around Rs 150 crore per year. However, factors such as budget allocation and the imposition of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) impacted progress. Bitumen roads, being cheaper than RMC, require frequent repairs due to their shorter lifespan.
The ongoing problems were exemplified by the main road connecting Ballabgarh with the KGP Expressway, which suffers from poor construction, causing daily hardship for commuters. “The road quality is subpar and it’s making thousands of people suffer daily,” said Sachin, a resident of Dayalpur village.
A social activist, Denson Joseph said that officials had not been held accountable for a case in which a three-year-old child was killed in an accident caused by a pothole in February 2014. SK Sharma, of the Road Safety Organisation, added tha taccidents caused by potholes occurred every month.
Birender Kardam, Chief Engineer of the MCF, stated that despite various constraints, all efforts were being made to repair damaged roads in a timely manner. Pradeep Sindhu, Executive Engineer of the PWD, said the department followed all norms and timelines for road repairs.
