Isn't it necessary that the administration in Jammu should opt for a trade-off when there is a need to strike a balance between repairing the king-sized potholes and beautifying the walls? The alluring walls have been distracting commuters, allowing the large potholes to become traps. Distracted vehicle drivers often encounter these potholes while admiring the work carried out by the Smart Jammu City authority on its walls and other structures, which is undoubtedly outstanding.
The hassle-free movement of pedestrians and commuters within town is still a tall order that one can expect from the administration. The potholes dotted on the roads further compound the problems for the citizens. Even during the previous administration with BJP as an equal partner, there was a lot of boasting about constructing top-quality roads with maintenance provisions for years to address damaged patches or potholes. Nevertheless, the outcome was similar because, just before a VVIP movement, an overnight operation was executed to conceal clusters of potholes using crushed Mulba material, as the commuters witnessed at that time.
No doubt the situation has changed now, with J&K reeling under LG's administration but the potholes remain the same rather this time some new spots have surfaced from nowhere with the same stubbornness which the earlier recurring ones possessed as these chronic holes on city roads never mend their ways and return at their set spots within days of repairs.
One cannot deny the fact that Jammu city, under the Smart City Project, has witnessed significant changes, and efforts are ongoing to elevate its visual appeal to the people.
However, the government should not underestimate the issue of basic civic facilities of removing encroachments on footpaths, city roads and market places, recurring potholes. Bottlenecks created by the traffic department and police at busy roads, crossing in the name of security.
Judging by their current condition, it's evident that they may persist on the Temple city's roads indefinitely, unless the relevant authority takes a proactive approach to address this problem. Particularly in the Gummat area, there's a proliferation of these potholes, making even walking difficult. It can be stated that these stubborn potholes in the city persist despite numerous attempts to repair them, leading to damaged tires, cars, and sometimes accidents.
This write up in no way is suggesting that stop beautifying the city roads but the simple appeal is to look after these potholes and damaged roads also which do reappear magically even after the spell of repairing them conventionally meaning straight that concerned authority should try something unconventional to have a permanent way out to get rid of the same.
