The word ‘development' often rides on the rhetoric in J&K for decades especially after the erstwhile state of Jammu Kashmir was demoted to a Union Territory status under direct rule of Centre since August, 2019.
Such is the passion about this single word that there is no local leader of the ruling party, who does not use this word at least 2-3 dozen times in the public interactions and meetings though the change on ground is in no way extraordinary. The potholes abundantly welcome people on the city roads, garbage management has improved a bit but the same has been made good by inadequate drainage. The deficient civic amenities are entangling the lives of many in city and suburbs besides lethargic response of concerned civic authorities making life difficult as dark streets with fuse lights are in vogue.
There are many other issues of the City of Temples as development is just a word and its realization is a distant dream because those leaders who have taken the course of rote method to use the aforesaid word actually don't have any power to bring about real change. In the absence of a popular government, all decisions are taken by the bureaucracy making the political leadership redundant. For these leaders, eulogizing their central leadership is only past time. As far as bureaucrats are concerned, the work culture of this section is entirely different as one can gauge by considering the situation of the roads in Jammu City.
Take the case of busy BC Road (patch below the overhead bridge facing vegetable market) or of Main Road Gandhi Nagar or for that matter any other road connected important destinations, one could find scores of patches because long time has passed when the roads were macadamized fully as the incumbent dispensation believes in patch work development.
The present situation is really agonizing especially for the vehicles particularly for two-wheeler riders. It is difficult to negotiate while on scooters and motorbikes even with moderate speed and this is the reason behind many mishaps.
This is a grave issue as development with patches is proving dearly to the people and moreover it does not go with the tagline of Smart City. The issue needs attention of the right quarters in the Administration to rid people from the bumpy rides and severe jerks.
