The deteriorating road network of the State has been a perennial problem, especially during the monsoon season when the rain fury exposes potholes and washes away the road topping with ease. The fragility of our roads is no secret. What is baffling are the deadlines that successive PWD Ministers have been holding out, giving distressed motorists a false sense of hope and relief. And now that the reality has dawned that the PWD has run out of funds for the financial year and that new hot-mixing works may not happen soon, the entire issue appears to be some sort of a cruel joke being played on the common man.
After several promises to fix the roads quickly after the monsoon, the PWD now acknowledges that it has exhausted its funds; thus, all the major repair works have come to a halt. This funding crisis reveals that the planning and prioritising of road issues have gone for a toss. On the one hand, a wide range of roadworks were undertaken throughout the last year—long sections were opened for water pipelines, underground cabling, sewerage, and gas line projects. Needless to say, these digs have resulted in a mosaic of damaged roads after the monsoon came.
The rains that extended beyond their schedule made the situation even worse as they turned the repaired patches into dangerous potholes. Those who travel by two or four-wheelers are subjected to very risky journeys. Some accidents, including fatal ones, are a direct consequence of the deteriorating roads. The department's admission that it cannot act is not just a problem of limited machinery or technical skill, but mainly a financial one. Therefore, the temporary interventions that are being carried out are only surface-level ones—intended to keep the roads somewhat passable—while the bigger, more durable repairs are being deferred indefinitely.
The situation highlights the state's essential governance flaw: the gap between political pledges and monetary balance. While politicians frequently herald ambitious road enhancement projects, the technical and administrative procedures become hurdles. Although borrowing funds is an alternative, it is more of a theoretical possibility than reality since such exceptions are hardly ever made and if so, only for projects that are of utmost priority and usually politically sensitive. Consequently, emergency repairs get postponed, and the roads continue to decay.
The fallout could have a toll on travellers, especially during peak festival season, where the accident rate is usually higher. Moreover, it is peak tourism season too. Tourists look upon the State they visit to provide the comforts of travel, let aside the discussion on transportation and the taxi issues. Providing seamless travel with motorable roads should be one of the priorities for the State government ahead of the season.
It is not enough to put an end temporarily to this crisis by patching up the roads; there has to be a complete revamp of infrastructure planning and financial management. Public confidence will be restored when there is a fair symmetry between development and maintenance. A lack of maintenance rings in frustration and speaks poorly of governance.
The road issues are a clear signal that infrastructure expansion cannot be just political talk where ministers speak about timelines based on festival dates - from Ganesh Chaturthi to Diwali to Christmas. The sudden admission that the PWD has run out of funds is unacceptable and means that the department has the least concern about the safety of citizens. Better roads is one of the basic requirements today, and it is painful when citizens are told to endure the agony and are exposed to risks of life. It is shameful that we have come to this stage.
