 ASHWANI SHARMA
Early Times Report
UDHAMPUR, May 15: Just a year after being blacktopped under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), the Kourgali to Lalli road has crumbled into a perilous stretch riddled with potholes and broken edges, leaving residents outraged and demanding accountability.
Once celebrated as a key infrastructure project aimed at improving rural connectivity, the road has now become a daily hazard. Deep potholes, uneven surfaces, and deteriorating margins are raising serious questions about the quality of construction and the absence of proper monitoring.
"It's shocking that a newly built road has degraded so quickly," said a local resident. "School children, the elderly, and daily commuters are all at risk. This isn't just poor workmanship-it's negligence."
PMGSY was launched to provide durable, all-weather road connectivity to underserved rural areas. However, the condition of the Kourgali-Lalli stretch appears to reflect glaring lapses in both execution and post-construction maintenance.
Villagers are urging Deputy Commissioner Udhampur, Saloni Rai, to intervene, conduct an inquiry into the substandard work, and ensure swift repairs before a serious accident occurs.
When contacted, the concerned Xen PMGSY stated, "Repair work on the road is currently underway and will be completed soon."
The situation leaves locals questioning whether authorities will take prompt action-or if it will take a tragedy to trigger meaningful accountability. |
