The road from Buchpora bus stop to Ilahibagh has developed deep ruts due to water accumulation particularly in rains causing inconvenience to people. The plight is such that we can’t even visit the local Masjid for Nimaz, because the road is terribly bad.
 Every year a heavy sum is being wasted in remetalling and tarring of the 100 meter road stretch.  This is like repeating a mistake open to public eye. The construction of an open temporary surface drain 100 to 200 meters long would save the Govt exchequer from repeated wastage of money pumped for remetalling of the road. Besides, this would provide relief to the local population as it would cater to traffic heading towards various routes like SKIMS, Buchpora, and Ganderbal.
 But as for now the people suffer. Take the case of Osmania High School located on the fringe of this devastated road. The students face inconvenience and there is every fear of mishap. In case the Government doesn’t have money for the repairs, at least during waterlogging, they should arrange a boat for the pedestrians.
 I have a point to ask for boats. Many representations made in the past brought no fruit.
 But then engineers too need to go for self-introspection. Gone are the days when concerned engineers would not get sleep for not repairing a pothole as the Chief Engineer would be on frequent rounds. The CE would shower all types of harsh words even abuses on the defaulting engineers if they failed to deliver.
 Perhaps the work culture has died down with the turbulent times of the past two decades. Only Almighty Allah can save this decaying nation and our roads!

Er Muhammad Ashraf Fazili
(The author is retired Chief Engineer, PWD and idea’s expressed are his own)

Lastupdate on : Sun, 16 May 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 16 May 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Mon, 17 May 2010 00:00:00 IST