Poor quality post-monsoon road repair work in Ahmedabad: Complaint filed

By A Representative
A Gujarat civil rights organization, Nagrik Sashaktikaran Manch (NSM), in a letter to Ahmedabad municipal commissioner Vijay Nehra has complained about “poor quality of the resurfacing of road” carried out over the last 24-48 hours. Especially referring to road from Surdhara Circle to Subhash Chowk, NSM secretary Jatin Sheth says, “The quality of material -- asphalt, bitumen, coltar -- is probably lower.” He has attached latest photographs to prove his point.
According to Sheth, “On the left side of the road a large amount of gravel has been eroded. As a result, two wheeler riders particularly find it difficult to maintain balance”. He wonders, “We do you not understand that if there are good roads in Gandhinagar, where roads remain intact despite the monsoon rain water, why are the authorities unable to provide such roads in Ahmedabad?”
Pointing out that even in Vadodara, which saw very heavy flooding, the roads have largely remained intact, Sheth, who is involved in Improve Roads, Save Lives campaign, says, “As municipal commissioner, you have apologized to the citizens of Ahmedabad about bad roads. Even then, after the repairs, the road condition remains poor.”

A report in a vernacular daily quotes Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani castigating officials in the Cabinet meeting for poor conditions of roads following the monsoon. “We have become a subject of scathing critique. We must take up this work urgently”, Rupani was quoted as saying. The report says, a whopping 12,600 km of roads would require repairs.
Sheth notes, “Road repair work is supposed to be monitored by a joint supervision team. However, it seems this is not being done. There is failure to bring to books those responsible for poor roods, including engineers and contractors.”
Sheth insists, “Before undertaking roads repair, authorities should inform citizens through media about their plans, so that one can take an alternative route. The law requires a board is placed on both sides of the road stating when the road repair work would begin and when would it be end, as also contact details, so that a social audit could take place.”

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