Jammu gets more funds for roads than Kashmir

Jammu once again has got lion’s share while Kashmir valley was left in lurch in terms of funds provided by Government of India (GoI) under Central Road Fund Scheme (CRFS) to the state of Jammu and Kashmir.

Under CRFS, Kashmir valley for the year 2014 got 1355.75 lakhs while Jammu got a whooping figure of 12795.80 lakhs. The gap between the two regions is hence estimated as 11440 lakhs.

The details of the CRF program over the last three years in the state informed that in Kashmir there were two constituencies approved for the scheme. One was Rafiabad- North Kashmir and another was South Kashmir’s Pulwama.  The approved cost for the two areas in valley was 1355.75 lakhs. Funds released in the year 2013-14 were 360.40 lakhs while as the balance remained 995.35 lakhs.

Now looking at Jammu, there were 10 areas approved to take benefit out of the scheme.  The total approved funds were 12,795.80 lakhs. Same was revised later at 10 percent hike and the amount swelled to 12929.50.  The proposed outlay for 2014-15 is 2464.68 lakhs. The projects include four laning of Satwari- Kunjwani Raod Phase-II, Construction of road from Tatani to Bhangar, Construction of Gandoh jail road,  improvement and upgradation of link road from Chowki Chora to Kathar, four laning of Satwari Kanjwani road phase- III, Buffiaz Marrah road, Doda Bheli Lal Draman, construction and upgradation of bharat keshwan road, improvement and upgradation of nagri road to double lane status.

It is the known fact in Kashmir valley that the road condition here in almost every district is so shabby that residents are coping to live with it and believe to be living in medieval times.

The protests over the bad roads in almost all areas of Kashmir valley is becoming order of the day here with the state authorities taking least measures in rectifying the errors.

Most of the roads of the districts including of the summer capital here have potholes and lie in shambles with the vehicular movement at snail’s pace, the residents are up in arms against Roads and Buildings department as well as Beacon authorities which constructs the roads in various valley areas.

There have been protests in Srinagar over the shabby condition of the roads. The residents of Maharaj Gunj, Zaina Kadal, Nowhatta, Safa Kadal Jamia Market, Nowshara and Rainawari, and scores of other old city areas in the recent past took to streets saying that despite bringing the problem into the notice of the state government, nothing had been done, except false assurances.

The city residents here make it to news dailies almost every day with the appeals for the repairing of the roads. Residents of the old city in the recent past threatened to start an agitation over the dilapidated condition of roads and drains. The residents later appealed Governor NN Vohra to take stock of the situation.

They also appealed the authorities concerned to macadamize main as well as other link roads that were in a dilapidated condition for the past several years.