PMGSY Road in Karnataka's Raichur District Fails Within Days, Villagers Cry Foul
Serious allegations of substandard construction have emerged from Nilogal village, located near the Hutti Gold Mines in Karnataka's Raichur district. A newly laid bitumen road, which connects Nilogal to Hirehesarur village, has reportedly peeled off and deteriorated merely two days after its completion, raising significant concerns about the quality of work executed under a central government scheme.
Road Constructed Under PMGSY at Rs 11 Crore Cost
The road in question was developed under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), a flagship rural connectivity program, at a substantial cost of Rs 11 crore. Despite this significant investment, villagers have expressed deep dissatisfaction, claiming that the rapid deterioration is a direct result of poor construction practices and inferior materials used by the contractor.
Local residents have alleged that the contractor laid the bitumen layer directly over an unprepared mud surface without proper metalling, a critical step in road construction that ensures durability and stability. This oversight, they argue, caused the top layer to come off almost immediately after completion, rendering the road unsafe and unusable for the community.
Villagers Demand Accountability and Action
Basavaraj Nayak, a resident of Nilogal village, has been vocal in his criticism, accusing the contractor of blatantly ignoring government norms and standards. "When we raised questions about the quality of work, we were met with evasive responses," Nayak stated, urging concerned officials to take immediate note of the situation and initiate appropriate action against those responsible.
The frustration among villagers has escalated to the point where office-bearers of the Karnataka Raitha Sangha taluk committee have issued a stern warning. They have demanded that authorities visit the site promptly to assess the quality of the road work. Failure to do so, they caution, will result in a protest being launched against the officials for negligence and dereliction of duty.
Broader Implications for Rural Infrastructure
This incident highlights ongoing challenges in the implementation of rural infrastructure projects under schemes like PMGSY. While the program aims to enhance connectivity and improve livelihoods in remote areas, cases of substandard work undermine public trust and waste valuable resources.
The villagers' demands for accountability underscore the need for stricter oversight and quality control mechanisms in government-funded projects. Ensuring that contractors adhere to prescribed norms is crucial to achieving the intended benefits of such initiatives and preventing similar failures in the future.
As the situation unfolds, all eyes are on the local authorities to address the grievances and take corrective measures. The outcome of this case could set a precedent for how quality issues in rural infrastructure projects are handled across Karnataka and beyond.
