'Benefits' of potholed roads!
Photo: Tamim Jamshed
On 9th August, most dailies published the communications minister's claim that "All highways are fit for traffic!" Firstly, nothing was mentioned about potholes, pools of rain water flooding potholes and other damaged road surfaces; and the dangerous crumbling and disintegration of the subsoil on the sides of the embankment over which the highways and roads are laid! This could lead to dangerous collapse of large chunks of the highways and roads. Yes traffic can move, but in urban areas, very often, rickshaws and three-wheelers get toppled and the passengers fall off and are injured, in the dirty water covering the roads. Some of these are shown in photographs published in almost all dailies as a daily feature. But this does not bother the minister, he only believes in what he has seen personally! He possibly feels that these photographs are doctored, and may have been published instigated by the opposition parties, to undermine him! In any case, he may say that it was all done during the time when the opposition party was in government, and funds for road works were salted away in their private coffers. As far as he is concerned, if traffic crawls along, and can only use one side of the roadway, the other side being badly damaged and unfit for traffic, he may even say that the slow speed ensures safety of people; with no risk of any accident; ultimately preventing many fatalities! Road travellers must be prepared to crawl forward slowly towards their destination, with many unscheduled stops on the way. At least you will reach your destination safe and sound, which can not be ensured if all the roads are in good condition and traffic is moving at high speed all the way!
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