In its run up to the Assembly poll scheduled later this year, the state government is contemplating massive road repair work as most of the existing roads, specially in rural areas, are in tatters and needed urgent repairs. The issue came up for intense discussion in Assembly Thursday as members raised the issue both during the question hour and the zero hour.
Congress member Tamradhwaj Sahu through his call attention notice during zero hour raised the issue of dilapidated condition of PWD roads in his constituency Bemetara alleging that due to poor road conditions villagers, school children and old aged persons are often fall victim to accidents which have become a common phenomenon now-a-days as many people have lost their lives in road accidents. Condition of roads from Khamhariya to Bherni, Saldha to Sandi, Sarwa to Ranka, Kumhimuda to Bacheri, Khamhariya to Singhauri was very poor. He alleged that though attention of the administration towards poor condition of roads has been drawn several times, no action is taken. last year about 30 roads were approved for repairs but till date neither the list of these roads was given by the department nor any repair work was started, he alleged.
Replying to the question of Sahu, Public Works Department Minister Brijmohan Agrawal told the House that between the year 2009-10 to 2012-13 under the Annual Repair (AR) head patch repair work was done over 24 roads at the cost of Rs 210.86 lakh. Under this head work of filling of ditches, asphaltation, murramisation and B T Renewal was done. Giving the details of work executed in the area the minister assured Tamradhwaj Sahu as well as Mrs Pratima Chandrakar, who also had raised the issue of poor road condition in Durg Rural assembly constituency, that the government will sanction road repair work amounting from Rs 3 crore to Rs 5 crore during the year 2013-14 in their respective constituencies.