WE THE PEOPLE
Despite public uproar, Kashmir roads continue to remain in shambles, Engineers totally unmoved
Hence people urge Authorities to restore damaged roads on war-footing basis and not wait for Darbar-Move
By: M.Shirjeel
Srinagar: With each passing day, condition of Kashmir roads in general and City roads in particular are getting deteriorated, rendering movement of automobiles difficult. The Automobile Experts opine that life of a vehicle on such type of roads is bound to get shortened by thirty percent and maintenance cost to shoot up by twenty percent. Such roads also consume more time in travelling a certain distance and thus prove to be expensive.
The condition of some roads is so bad that Managers of Private Transport Companies have abandoned such routes, thereby bringing commuters face to face with unbearable hardships. People suspect that the Engineers are waiting for Darbar Move avoid inconvenience to all those who rule the roost.
One wonders as to why roads have shown teeth and turned untrafficable especially when there were mild wintry conditions this year. Majority of the roads has developed potholes, ruts, corrugations and irregular ditches in the city of Srinagar. The condition of rural roads is all the more pathetic.
Plying vehicles on uneven surfaces has caused damages to vehicles to a great extent and as such the level of mental trauma can well be imagined than described.
It is generally observed that the engineers embark upon massive patchwork on city roads when date for Darbar Move zeroes in. The roads are given a better aesthetic look to improve free flow of traffic and such an exercise has become an annual distinct feature in Kashmir valley. Lacks of rupees are being pumped in the execution of cosmetic treatment, thereby putting great burden on the State Exchequer. Had our roads been constructed as per guidelines and specifications spelt out by Indian Road Congress (IRC), there would be no necessity for resorting to such wasteful expenditure every year. Such patches have attained a special feature of getting exposed at regular intervals, as these are not treated properly. With a small downpour, such spots get exposed and appear as potholes.
Pertinent to mention that sub-grade of all highways has strong bearing on their durability. The sub-grades are required to be designed as per soil characteristics with sufficient stress on drainage problem. The roads in filling need special care as embankment formations are to be carried out under strict conditions, which are laid down by soil scientists. Besides surface drains and underground drains are to be designed properly so that embankments do not slough, which leads to the failure of the embankments. The roads in cutting have no problem except the sub-grade, which has to be designed according to the load coming from above. Our city roads have no technical problem as these have strong bases, but what is required is the proper construction of the sub-grade and provision of surface drains. No road can have a long life if it is facing surface drainage problem, which is the normal feature of our roads in the Valley of Kashmir. A minor rainfall leads to submergence and renders free movement of vehicles difficult.
Hence people urge Authorities to restore damaged roads on war-footing basis and not wait for Darbar-Move. People demand permanent treatment and not patchworks to keep roads fit to withstand stresses and weather vagaries. Therefore, the top brass of State Administration must evolve a mechanism, which will put an end to cosmetic treatment of roads in Kashmir Valley. The highways need to be designed as per specifications laid down by Indian Road Congress and no deviations should be permitted under any circumstances. The roads have bearing not only on our mobility and the life of automobiles but have far reaching effect on our economic health!
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