Chatyari-Bagla road upgradation | Rajouri villagers irked over slow pace of work

Rajouri, May 14:  Villagers from Bagla, Nadyala, Richwa, Chatyari and Androoth villages of Rajouri have called for expediting the ongoing work of upgradition of Chatyari to Bagla chowk road.

They expressed concern over slow pace of work .The road under construction falls under the control of Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojna (PMGSY) and a project for upgradation of road was sanctioned. The work of which is going on under the jurisdiction of Rajouri division of department.

Locals of these areas said that road connects entire hilly pocket of Bagla Nadyala with Jammu- Rajouri- Poonch national highway and is busy for this reason as more than 5,000 people depend on this stretch for connectivity.

"The road starts from Chatyari on highway and connects with Bagla chowk and is main road connecting link for villages including Bagla, Nadyala, Richwa, Upper Chatyari and Androoth," said Mohammad Ashiq of Nadyala area who informed that over five link roads start from this main road that include Richwa to Androoth road, Bagla to Richwa road, and Nadyala to Bagla road.

He said that the road was single lane earlier but was in very poor condition with no proper drain and culverts and now department has taken up project for up- gradation of this vital road.

"The work for road upgradation is going on but the pace is not satisfactory and is rather slow due to which we are suffering," Ashiq said.

Mohammad Sadiq from Richwa while narrating the problem said that condition of road from Bagla Chowk to Chatyari is worst in present times.

"Culvert and drain work is going on at many places but condition of road is very much dilapidated and big potholes are becoming cause of accident," said Sadiq who added that not only the movement of private vehicles has become difficult here but there is only one bus service from Rajouri to Nadyala and other from Rajouri to Bagla and this is because no person wants to purchase a new vehicle and ply it on this dilapidated road.

"We request PMGSY to expedite the work of upgradation on this road," he said.

Executive Engineer of PMGSY Rajouri Division, Er Shahid Mustafa told that the name of road is Chatyari to Nadyala and the project of upgradation of this road being executed presently and estimated cost of this project is Rs 1509.1 lakhs.

He added that the length of this road is fifteen kilometers and work was taken up on January 24, 2023.

"We are presently carrying out work of protection and construction of culverts after which remaining part of work will be taken up and we are expecting completion of this road project in first quarter of next year," Er Shahid added.