Beyond NH-44

The stretch of national highway (NH-44) connecting Jammu with Srinagar is often termed as lifeline of the people. Though, the term lifeline is correct in this context but when one considers the vastness of Jammu and Kashmir starting from far flung areas of Kathua to Poonch, Rajouri, Doda, Kishtwar, Baramulla, Kupwara, etc. the small link roads connecting villages and towns to tehsil headquarters or district headquarters are also significant in many respects for people living in the remote hamlets away from urban centres.

These less cared road links are the lifelines connecting people with hospitals, schools, markets and essential services. It is a hard fact that unlike NH-44, these roads face indifference of the concerned government quarters as the recent case of a sick teen girl losing life due to bad roads in the region forcing her to struggle for hours to reach healthcare facilities in Rajouri city.

This tragic incident should be taken as a lesson by the government to revisit the present system of monitoring and restoring roads across the Union Territory. Reportedly, the girl died after the vehicle carrying her to a hospital remained stuck in mud for nearly three hours on the Chak Methyani-Panglar-Kotecharwal road.

Subsequently, the government has suspended the concerned official and ordered an inquiry. Such action is necessary if negligence is established but what is more important is to devise a mechanism to restore roads blocked due to different reasons in stipulated time with multiple agencies keeping a track of the works being accomplished on real time bases.

A permanent system of road construction, repair and monitoring is the need of the hour. The concerned agencies should regularly inspect roads and update their status. During monsoon, snowfall and other periods of bad weather, inspections should be more frequent.

The locals should be encouraged to report the issues regarding the roads and bridges to the higher authorities with the establishment of a special grievance cell for this purpose. It is also important that the complaints by the public should be recorded and addressed within a fixed time.

The government can also share the latest information locally through social media, radio and text messaging as it is vital for people living in remote hamlets. Critical roads connecting remote villages with hospitals and main highways need to be looked after on priority to avoid cases like the one reported from Rajouri District.

There should also be clear accountability. Road damage is a continuous process but what matters is how quickly, honestly and effectively the administration responds.