Snowfall turns recently macadamized roads into potholes

Srinagar, Jan 08:  The recently macadamized roads easily gave in to the last week’s snowfall in the Valley only to expose the Governor led administration’s tall claims of providing clean governance to the people in the State.

With mercury frequently staying in minus, newly macadamised roads at many places in Bemina, Karanagar, Batamallo, Fateh Kadal, Nawa Bazar have either developed cracks or their upper crust has started withering off, which raises a big question mark on the quality of material being used during the macadamisation process of these roads.

Abdul Majeed, a resident of Karanagar told The Kashmir Monitor, “The roads have started developing cracks and could not sustain even one winter. Most of the roads that were macadamized recently have developed potholes and cracks.”
Even the Government officials are acknowledging that usage of “sub-standard material” is the reason why several roads that were macadamized are developing cracks and potholes.
“These roads could not last longer as substandard material might have been used during their macadamisation,” an official of Roads and Buildings (R&B) Department said.
According to the locals the problem of commuting on these pothole dotted roads exaggerates during rainfall when water gets accumulate in them.
The R&B Department official confessed that even State Vigilance Organisation last year found that poor quality of material was used in various road works at several places.
He said the investigation was carried out after the reports that contractors were violating rules by using unapproved material in several road constructions came to the surface.
Chief Engineer, R&B Department Sami Arif said that defect liability period for a contractor is for three years.
“At some places damages has happened due to snow clearing machines, which will be rectified by contractors without any additional charges, assuring the department would look into the reasons for why roads developed potholes.