PMGSY Road in Barabanki Crumbles Just Two Years After Construction
A 5.45km road built under PMGSY in Barabanki is crumbling just two years after completion, sparking corruption allegations among locals.
A significant stretch of road constructed under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) in Barabanki's Ramnagar tehsil is facing severe decay, despite being completed only two years ago. The 5.45-kilometer route, which links Ganeshpur Mor to Narayanpur through Badanpur, has transformed into a hazardous path filled with deep potholes and patches of missing asphalt.
Rapid Decay and Local Grievances
The road, which saw the start of construction on September 21, 2022, was intended to provide seamless connectivity to the region. However, the current state of the bitumen surface has left motorists struggling. Residents have pointed out that the absence of proper road shoulders, combined with thick vegetation and encroaching brush, is making travel increasingly difficult and dangerous.
Local villagers, including Mahendra, Rajkumar, Sukhdev Tiwari, Sushil Trivedi, and Tunni, have expressed their frustration over the deteriorating conditions. They noted that because the edges of the road are not being maintained, water tends to collect along the sides, which in turn accelerates the destruction of the asphalt surface.
Maintenance Contract Under Scrutiny
According to project details, the road is currently under a five-year maintenance period. The contract, which runs from December 30, 2023, to December 29, 2028, has a dedicated budget of ₹37.63 lakh. The responsibility for this upkeep was assigned to M/S Rahat Ali, based in Adampur, Jarwal Road, Bahraich.
Under the PMGSY guidelines, the maintenance contractor is strictly required to perform several essential tasks, including:
- Clearing brush and vegetation after the monsoon season.
- Repairing rain cuts and filling potholes or cracks.
- Maintaining road shoulders to prevent water stagnation.
- Ensuring the upkeep of drains and culverts.
Allegations of Corruption
Despite the significant funds allocated for maintenance, locals allege that none of these mandatory tasks are being carried out. The community has leveled serious accusations of corruption against officials, questioning how a road could deteriorate so rapidly under a formal maintenance contract.
Villagers are now demanding an immediate and thorough investigation into the quality of the original construction, the extent of the current damage, and the failure of the assigned agency to fulfill its maintenance obligations.