Early Times Report
Jammu, Sept 17: Apart from disrupting the smooth flow of traffic, the damaged roads in the winter capital lead to put financial burden on commuters, as they have to spend more on the maintenance of vehicles which get damaged while plying on these bad roads.
Heavy rain in the month of July and August has created potholes at almost all the roads of the city and peripherals, including National Highway. These potholes are not only creating traffic jams and inviting accidents, but also putting financial burden on commuters by damaging the vehicles, especially Shockers.
Commuters moving towards Gumat Chowk, Kunjwani by-pass and Amphalla Chowk are worst effected these days as most of the two-wheelers skid off on these places.
Garage owners say there has been an increase in number of customers coming for maintenance of vehicles. While some of them complain their vehicles got damaged while driving on bumpy roads, other claim their vehicles met with an accident due to potholes.
Suresh Dogra, a banker said, "Not a single road is left without the potholes in the city, it increases wear and tear charges, which come down hard on our pockets."
"We are paying token tax of the vehicles, so that the Government would provide us smooth roads for our vehicles, but if the Government cannot provide smooth roads in the winter capital, what kind of roads we expect in other districts," he added.
Another commuter Kunal Khajuria said, "Some commuters are also developing orthopedic problems due to driving on bumpy roads."
"The bad shapes of roads are putting at stake the lives of the citizens of the city," he added.
Manager at a garage, Sourabh Sharma said, "Vehicles with shocker problems and dents coming for repair has gone up by 40 percent during last two months. Most of the four-wheeler drivers fail to control speed on potholed roads and the vehicles catch various problems, mostly in shockers and suspensions."
Executive Engineer, Public Works Department said, "Due to heavy rain this monsoon the roads are damaged badly, we are now waiting for the weather to be cleared, so that we can start the repair work."
He admitted that the commuters, who are pay the road tax are not getting smooth roads. "We are not getting the sufficient budget on time for repair of roads, but we always tries to do our best for the public," he added. |
