Government changes, but not the culture of PWD (R)

SILCHAR: State PWD (R) might be doing good and quality roads at some places, but not everywhere. The network of highways and roads across the district of Karimganj has become so bad that commuters and vehicles of all sorts have to move cautiously and carefully for at risk is both life and limb. Agitations by road and highway users are frequent. Blockades at different locations happen to draw the attention of authorities and people's representatives. It is a situation which can hardly be said to be different from Congress regime, giving the general impression 'government changes, but not the culture of PWD (R)' pointed out Shibanu Kar, a septuagenarian resident of Settlement road of the border town, overlooking Bangladesh.

Cross over to that side of the border and commute down to Sylhet, 50 km away, said Rudra Narayan Ghose, businessman, a native of Karimganj, and one can feel the verve of easy, smooth and jerk-free travel through Sutarkandi international Portland and this is exactly the picture of roads in our neighbouring countries. Climatic and topographical conditions in both the friendly countries are identical. 'Why then such a difference in quality of roads,' ask residents in general of Karimganj. This can well be addressed and answered by the PWD (R) office at Karimganj.

In order to get the roads of the town repaired and spruced up, Sanjeeb Banik, president BJP town committee, met the additional executive engineer of PWD (R) with other members and pressed on him for taking necessary steps ahead of Durga Puja festival. The roads of the town with every passing day are turning from bad to worse as the photograph shows. The additional executive engineer admitted the deteriorating condition but expressed his helpless to go for total facelift of roads. 'All that the department can do is patch up so that puja revellers and pandal hoppers have no difficulty,' he pointed out.

When the BJP delegation wanted to know about the fate of Rs 16 crore allotted for uplift of roads two years ago, the additional executive engineer has no specific answer. When former MLA and Chairman, AIDC, Mission Ranjan Das, peeved at the method of works hammered at the department, assurance came from the executive engineer of taking up steps for improvement of roads. But, till now there is no semblance of any work initiated. Is BJP no more a party with a difference, ask its dedicated and honest leaders and workers?

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