Jammu, 21 October (H.S.): Socio-political activist, Jayesh Gupta today strongly criticized the authorities over the appalling condition of roads across Jammu city, describing it as a “glaring example of administrative mismanagement under the so-called Smart City Project.”

Gupta said that despite crores being spent in the name of development, several major roads, including Janipur-Kot Bhalwal Road, Talab Tillo Road, RS Pura Road, and many others, are lying in a pitiable state. “At many places, the road surface has completely eroded, leaving behind craters and uneven patches. Large potholes have turned daily commuting, especially for two-wheeler riders, into a nightmare. Reports of minor accidents have become routine as drivers struggle to avoid potholes,” Gupta remarked.

He expressed shock over the poor quality of recent repair works, pointing out that “many roads repaired merely a few months ago, in May and June this year, have already developed cracks and potholes. This clearly indicates the use of substandard materials and lack of oversight in execution.”

Gupta said such negligence defeats the very purpose of the Smart City initiative, which was envisioned to transform Jammu into a model of modern infrastructure. “Roads are the face of any city. When the very foundation of urban mobility lies in shambles, calling Jammu a Smart City becomes a mockery. This is nothing less than a betrayal of public trust,” he asserted.

The activist demanded immediate intervention from the concerned departments to ensure long-lasting repairs, strict monitoring of future projects, and accountability of the contractors and officials responsible for the poor quality of work.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Krishan Kumar