shariq's blog

6.4-km Road Project
Four years gone, just half done
Shariq Majeed
Tribune News Service

Shahdara Sharief (Rajouri), October 15
Even after four years the government undertook the road work to the shrine of Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah here, the completion of the project looks like a distant dream.

As a result, residents and pilgrims to the shrine are left to walk on dilapidated road.

Residents told The Tribune that the construction work on a 6.4-km-long stretch from Thanamandi to Shahdara Sharief was going on at a snails pace.

“The work started in 2004 when Mufti Mohammad Sayeed was the chief minister.
The Public Works Department was given the task. It was presumed that the work
on the road would be completed within two years,” said Shabir Ahmed, a retired
government servant.

“But now the condition of road has changed from bad to worse. It’s only a pain for the residents and pilgrims,” he added.

The employees in the management of the Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah Shrine also regretted the slowness of the government.

“This is a shame for the government. It should at least rise from the slumber and get the work expedited,” said one employee on the condition of anonymity.

Suraj Gupta, PWD executive engineer, Rajouri, said they lack funds for the project.

“We received Rs 3 crore out of Rs 7.42 crore and with that money we have constructed two main bridges. We will be able to complete the road project as soon as we get the rest of the funds,” he said.

And if the funds come on time, the engineer said, we would probably complete the work by October next year.