Potholed Roads

Most of the roads across Kashmir Valley are riddled with potholes and some stretches can easily qualify as the worst.
There are a whole host of problems that essentially are not impossible to address but difficult nevertheless.  Without any doubt, the severe winter conditions cause breaking up and shattering of the road surface due to seepage and frost action. How well these roads can be protected from the weather vagaries is for the concerned department engineers and the government to work out. In the last several decades, no thought has apparently gone to address it and perhaps it needs a look into, particularly to find out if the problems lie beyond or including compaction, and surfacing etc. Recently, Chief Engineer R&B department said that there would be no compromise on the quality of work. The statement is reassuring. He and other concerned need to find out if insufficient or poor quality material is used in the construction. Not only the Macdamisation of road surface in terms of macadam thickness, its consistency, quality of tar and proper compaction with road rollers need to be seen, the metalling and allied basics needed proper monitoring for durable roads.  Also,perhaps insufficient drainage allowing rainwater and snowmelt to seep into the road surface needs a look into and shall be addressed because it would solve two problems: one that the roads would be saved and second water logging during rains would be prevented. The novel coronavirus has caused considerable delay in mending the roads as it forced lockdown. However, the concerned departments need to step up the processes during the present unlock and utilize the current hot temperature to best advantage. The government needs to address allegations of delay in macdamisation and allied works due to the late release of funds. The concerned departments which should be directed to release funds well in time for better road network which is important to buttress the economy as also prevent traffic jams. Last year, the J&K traffic police told J&K High Court that traffic jams were the outcome of the dilapidated road conditions as drivers are forced to go slow which invariably causes traffic to pile up and hence jams, sometimes gridlocks. The government should also look into the aspect of patchwork which causes bumps and makes roads more vulnerable to damages.

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