JORABAT, Nov 27 - Promises of better road infrastructure have turned out to be a cruel joke when it comes to link roads in most of the city areas and villages in the State. In several villages, roads have more potholes than smooth surface, and, in places, some of the potholes are so large that even four-wheeler drivers think twice before commuting on these roads.
A visit to the Maloibari village under the Dispur constituency revealed that the dilapidated condition of the roads, especially the �bund roads�, which has greatly incensed the residents, makes a mockery of the government�s high-pitch slogans on the development front.
After a lot of requests had been made to the government, repair work on the bund (mothauri) along the Kolong river was finally sanctioned by the Department of Water Resources and three contractors bagged the contract for one crore and two lakh rupees for gravelling a stretch of four km from Oujari to the Maloibari gaon panchayat office.
According to the locals, although the repair works were completed about five to six months ago, the road stretch has by now turned into a virtual death trap with potholes appearing all over it.
Residents of Maloibari have now threatened to launch an agitation if the dilapidated bund, which is the only road connecting to the highway, is not turned into a pitch road-cum-bund soon. Furious over the poor gravelling work, they alleged embezzlement of government funds released for the purpose. The villagers say they feel ashamed to be called residents of the Dispur constituency as they have always been ignored when it comes to road development.
Sanjoy Chakraborty, a local resident, says that he, along with others, has been witness to several incidents of vehicles getting stuck in the potholes.
Manmohan Das, another local, says that during the monsoon, mud water turns the road slippery, making it difficult for two-wheelers and four-wheelers while commuting.
According to sources, a report had also been forwarded to the authorities concerned for constructing a 35.6-km road-cum-bund along the river, but to no avail.
