The Government is working on construction of roads using modern techniques but the condition of roads in the Kumaon region is quite bad due to improper work culture.

The Kumaon commissioner Rajiv Rautela said this while chairing a meeting to review the status of roads being constructed by various agencies and departments. Expressing dissatisfaction at the slow pace of construction and development works by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) the Kumaon commissioner pulled up the officers concerned. He said that due to the slow pace of construction work by the NHAI on national highway 87 Rampur-Kathgodam route, the people are facing inconvenience and accidents are also taking place on this important route. The authority officers were directed to ensure that work on roads being constructed by NHAI in Kumaon region is expedited with focus on the quality of work. Pointing out that the pace of work by contracts of the NHAI and Public Works Department (PWD) is also slow, Rautela said that the contractors should be pulled up and conditions in the tender should be strictly enforced.

Action should be taken against any contractor found dithering or negligent towards maintaining quality standards.

The commissioner directed the PWD chief engineer VN Tiwari to present proposals for road widening and beautification works including parks, benches and fountains at sites where roads from Uttar Pradesh enter the Kumaon region. Large signage should also be put up in such places to welcome tourists. Questioning the apathy of the PWD towards illegal constructions by people on roadsides, he directed the department officers to conduct a campaign for demolishing all types of illegal constructions on the roadsides.

 The help of the district administration and police should also be taken for this purpose. Expressing dissatisfaction on the bad state of roads in Kashipur, he directed immediate repairs after the monsoon.