PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE / Dehradun
With the monsoon season nearing, the Public Works Department (PWD) has stepped up pothole-filling and road repair works across Dehradun to ensure safer travel for commuters. However, citizens continue to question the effectiveness of these repairs, alleging that many patched potholes deteriorate within days, leaving roads in worse condition than before.
Several commuters pointed out that patchwork carried out ahead of the rains often fails to withstand consistent rainfall. Waterlogged potholes become difficult to identify, increasing the risk of accidents, particularly for two-wheeler riders. Residents said that in many places, stones and repair material begin to come loose within a few days of the work being completed. Citing a recent example Naresh Aggarwal, who operates a street cart near Old Court Road said that a pothole at the entrance to the area was repaired around June 8 but the patchwork did not last even a month. “The repaired portion has already broken apart and the pothole is back to its previous condition,” he said.
Speaking on the issue, PWD executive engineer Rajesh Kumar said that the department is carrying out potholes repairs and restoration works on the roads damaged during execution of public utility projects. He added that temporary patchwork is undertaken during the monsoon to keep roads motorable, while permanent resurfacing is taken up after the rainy season. Kumar further said that standard road repair materials are used for patchwork and damaged sections are prepared before repairs are carried out.
He also informed that pothole repairs and patchwork are a continuous process and do not have a separate fixed budget. Funds are provided under the road maintenance budget, with allocations made on the basis of damage assessments and repair requirements. Kumar said that apart from potholes, roads dug by utility agencies such as UPCL and other departments for laying cables, pipelines and other infrastructure are also being restored. He informed that about 40 per cent of the roads dug up for utility works have been restored, while the remaining work is in progress. Despite these measures, commuters continue to raise concerns over recurring potholes and the limited durability of monsoon-time repairs.
