Udhampur :- Senior Congress leader and West Assembly constituency candidate Sumit Magotra conducted an early morning inspection of blacktopping work across various locations in the city, including Gol Market, Lal Chowk, MH Chowk, and Housing Colony, following complaints from local residents.
During the inspection, Magotra and other officials showed the media how the newly laid blacktopping, done just two days ago, had already deteriorated with loose stones and exposed soil in several places, drawing strong protests from local residents.Magotra pointed out that the road surface laid five years ago was in better condition than the current work completed just two days prior. He questioned the contractor’s poor workmanship and the department’s silence, suggesting possible collusion between the two parties.
The Congress leader also highlighted similar substandard work in the main market area, where several stretches have developed an uneven surface.Calling for legal action against those responsible for the inferior construction, Magotra noted that while the City Town Plan and UEED department are overseeing the blacktopping work, Udhampur West MLA Pawan Gupta, who had promised to prevent contractors from doing substandard work during ribbon-cutting ceremonies, remains silent despite protests from local businessmen and residents.
Magotra emphasized that the road construction is being funded by public tax money, not private funds, and any irregularities would not be tolerated. Following his protest, the department took swift action, and within hours, the damaged portion in Housing Colony was repaired with fresh blacktopping. Present during the inspection were Advocate Gulshan Singh, Mahesh Banathia, Arvind Khajuria, Sahil Sallan, Mukesh Bharti, Shivam, Tirath Ram, and others.
