Many roads in Jammu are in dilapidated condition resulting in inconvenience for the people. Due to denial and delay of renewal of cards of many contractors and hot-mix plant operators by the PW (R&B) department, many roads in Jammu are in bad condition.
As per reports, improving condition of roads in Jammu and Kashmir has been affected due to delay and denial of renewal of cards. It is pertinent to mention that J&K government issued A class contract cards as special cases to operators of hot mix plants to improve road infrastructure. Many of unemployed engineers and educated youth also took loans and owned machinery and then joined hands for the infra-development and obtained A class contract cards for macadamization of J&K roads. But, PW(R&B) Department few months ago refused the renewal of the cards of the hot mix plant owners/ operators on the plea that they cannot be considered as A Class contractors
The contractors lodged their strong protest against the Government move and sought some relaxation. It took several months for the negotiation and now after series of meetings and negotiations, the process of renewal of cards has been commenced. This was another reason behind the delay in the repair of roads, as per Daily Excelsior.
Another member of the Contractors Association Vinod Kohli told Excelsior that they conducted many meetings with the Chief Engineer and some other senior officers of R&B over the issue and In Kashmir, there was strong protest and agitation by the contractors and in Jammu also contractors lodged protest and sought relaxation in conditions and refused to work if the rates of macadamization were not revived, besides accepting other demands.
Further he added that recently, R&B authorities agreed and now taking undertaking/ affidavit from the contactors that if anything or any pending liability found against them their cards will be cancelled. Also he informed that during past one year, the rates of bitumen have increased but the R&B was not prepared to revive the rates of macadamization this was another reason of delay in taking contracts and start blacktopping work here though now a committee has been formed.
