PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/Dehradun
Despite repeated directions from chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and Public Works minister Satpal Maharaj to repair potholes, several roads across the State are riddled with potholes, with residents questioning the durability of repeated patchwork and newly repaired stretches. However, Public Works Department officials claimed that road damage after repairs is common during the monsoon due to continuous traffic, rainfall and waterlogging. PWD superintending engineer Ompal Singh said that the department carries out repairs whenever damage is reported. “Wherever we find damage, we repair it. Once one stretch is fixed, damage can occur at another location,” Singh said.
On allegations of poor-quality road work, he said that the department inspects complaints and takes action depending on the severity of the damage. “If there is a major issue, action is taken against the contractor, including replacement where required. Minor defects are repaired at the affected spot,” he said. Singh said that tile-based repairs on some roads should not be viewed as permanent solutions during the monsoon, as such work is intended to provide temporary relief until weather conditions improve. The department has set October 15 as the deadline for completing the ongoing patchwork. “Patchwork will start from mid-September and permanent solutions will be taken up,” he said. Permanent repairs are difficult during prolonged rainfall and waterlogging. According to the data, PWD has completed pre-monsoon patch repair work on all damaged roads under its jurisdiction, according to a progress report dated May 15. A targeted length of 428.77 km spread across five divisions-Prantiya Khand, Nirman Khand, Sahiya, Chakrata and Rishikesh. The officials achieved full 100 percent completion. The work covered state highways, main district roads and other district roads, with an estimated total cost of Rs 1029.91 lakh.
However, locals said that repeated repairs have done little to improve road conditions. Dharampur resident Sourav Kumar said that stretches around Dharampur Chowk and Subhash road had been repaired several times but continued to develop potholes and uneven surfaces. “The roads start breaking again as soon as they are repaired,” Kumar said. He added that uneven surfaces become particularly risky for two-wheelers during rain as waterlogging makes it difficult for commuters to identify potholes and raised portions of the road. The recurring damage has raised concerns among residents over whether the city needs more durable road repairs rather than repeated patchwork, particularly on stretches that frequently deteriorate during the monsoon.
