Construct Maitra-Balawat PMGSY Road: Ashok

Ex-MLA Ashok Kumar interacting with people in Ramban on Tuesday.
Ex-MLA Ashok Kumar interacting with people in Ramban on Tuesday.

Excelsior Correspondent

RAMBAN, Sept 8: Ashok Kumar, former Legislature from Ramban today questioned BJP Government at the Centre for slow progress in completion of PMGSY roads in Ramban Constituency and strongly urged upon the Lt Governor (J&K) to direct the concerned authorities to immediately repair and black topping of Maitra-Balawat (PMGSY) link road along with proper drains as patients, pregnant women, students and daily commuters are suffering badly due to dilapidated condition of road.
While interacting with the people during extensive visit of various villages in Ramban constituency, Ex-MLA said that the PMGSY wing of R&B Department has spent Rs 578.47 lakhs as the allotted cost for its construction despite the fact that the road is not safe even for light vehicles up to Balawat.
In a statement issued here, Ex-MLA said there is a protract delay in the process of black topping and drain work. It has been delayed for the last 6 years and its very unfortunate that Centre, J&K Government and concerned higher authorities are not taking any interest for the development of this PMGSY link road and delaying its work without any reason. He demanded that black topping with drain work should be started immediately so that people of the area do not suffer.
He stressed upon the concerned authorities to provide agriculture and fruit trees compensation under PMGSY road which is pending for the last 8 years. Ashok said that the Maitra-Balawat link road under PMGSY with the length of 10km has been constructed in 6th phase at the allotted cost of Rs 578.47 lakhs but still cutting work is pending and debris by landslide has not been cleared yet by the concerned contractor under PMGSY department. It is great injustice to the people inhabited in remote hilly tracts of Jammu and Kashmir who have been connected to the only link road.
Ashok has further said that the Maitra-Balawat link road from First km to 7th Km under R&B (PWD) has been damaged due to ignorance by concerned authorities and are without black topping and drains which creates damage to the road already constructed which further creates the loss to the Government funds and menace for the local commuters.
He demanded that Chief Engineer R&B (PWD) should take immediate steps for releasing funds and issue direction to the concerned authorities at Ramban division for immediate repair, black topping of Maitra-Balawat link load.