DODA,NOV 15 (KNO) : Concern is mounting over the deteriorating condition of roads in the erstwhile Doda district especially 20 Km Goha Marmath road . The agency responsible for upkeep of the road , the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) had reportedly failed to take mandatory maintenance works on roads, footpaths and drains.People pay road tax and other fees of vehicles but in return they get such state of bad roads to ply on. Such bad conditions of roads leads to more consumption of petrol and diesel and results in more wear and tear of vehicles, thus subject the consumers/general public to spend more on running of their vehicles.The poor road conditions still remain one of the main problems of the commuters who used to visit daily in different parts of the Doda areas . It is straight consumers rights violation.Regretting the poor condition of the road , which was posing danger to life and property, an educationist Ajit Singh Kotwal said that the critical condition of Goha Marmath road near Gullar Nalla and other areas had brought a bad name to the NHA
Though a large number of accidents are happening due to bad condition of the road , leading to disc displacement, spinal injuries and bones dislocation and injuries, no proper attention was being to the problem, said Kotwal . Government at the helm of affairs should take note of the bad condition of roads and direct the concerned to repair, the conditions of the roads, so that they become worthy of plying vehicles. Mushtaq Malik a local of Marmath said vehicles owners are made to suffer due to such conditions of road.Roads play an important role in the process of development and indirectly responsible for the economic growth of the particular area. So it is important to maintain roads from time to time to ensure public safety.Resentment is brewing among the masses against the administration as the restoration of roads was set as a major target after the formation of the government. However, only patching work is being carried out in different parts of the Chenab belt .The NHA did not do its job honestly and condition of the road deteriorated. “Due to poor road connectivity, a traveller is not sure whether he will reach his destination safely. Our vehicles have been damaged, causing monetary loss,” said Nadeem Ahmed , a government employee. The NHA has not taken any step to clear boulders, big stones, mud and other unwanted material from the roadside, which has reduced the width of the road to single vehicle use.It is worthwhile to mention here that with the population growing day by day, India is also becoming the fastest growing economy in the world. And there are many allied sectors which are responsible for the quick economic growth and overall development of the country as well as the state of Jammu and Kashmir . In our state, many things are being done in the field of education, science and technology, tourism etc but still there are many others sectors which need to be noticed and one of them is “road network ”.(KNO)