Srinagar, Mar 11: Want to know how concerned the government is towards the completion of developmental projects in this City? Sample this. For laying drainage pipes on mere 2 KM road stretch from Ellahi Bagh grid station to Rangapora, it has taken National Building Construction Corporation (NBCC) more than two years, and the work is still incomplete.
 The residents of Rangapora and Ellahi Bagh localities are up in arms against the NBCC for slow pace of work as the messy conditions of the dug up road have obviously added to their woes.
 The locals alleged that the NBCC only dug up the roads in the area and thereafter did nothing to repair them.
 “For the last two years no vehicle has plied on this road,” the locals said. Farooq Ahmad of Rangapora said: “Laying of sewage pipes has become a nuisance for us. Few minutes of rainfall turn this road into a marsh.”
 He said it was difficult for people to venture out of their homes. “Moreover, there’ always a fear of falling in the uncovered manholes,” he added.
 Many a local said they were so fed up of work that they plan migration from the area.
 “I have to park my vehicle three KMs away from my home. The inconvenience is so worst that our relatives have also stopped visiting our house,” said a local.
 The shopkeepers are equally fed up of the messy road conditions.
 “During these two years my sales have gone down drastically,” said a shopkeeper adding not only sales but the shopkeepers  of the area are facing problems even in receiving stock from distributors due to bad road conditions.
 When contacted Rafiq Ahmed, an official with the NBCC, blamed the state government for the mess.
 “We had agreement with the state government that they would deposit funds in advance.  But they (government) have only paid us Rs 20 crores out of Rs 28 crores. As a result many contractors have stopped their work,” the official said.
 As about the road repairs he said it was to be done by the Roads and Buildings (R&B) department.
 The R&B officials threw back the ball into the NBCC court pleading that how could they go for road repairs when the drainage work was yet to be completed.

Lastupdate on : Sun, 11 Mar 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 11 Mar 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Mon, 12 Mar 2012 00:00:00 IST