SRINAGAR: Peoples Democratic Party MLA Waheed Ur Rehman Para on Wednesday criticised the government over delays in road infrastructure projects across Jammu and Kashmir, alleging that not a single road has been taken up for macadamisation or blacktopping despite the passage of nearly half of the working season.
Thousands of crores have been allocated to R&B Department, yet the reality on the ground remains alarming. Nearly half the working season has passed, but not a single road has been taken up for macadamization or blacktopping. Announcements continue, tenders are issued, but…
— Waheed Ur Rehman Para (@parawahid) June 24, 2026
In a post on X, Para said thousands of crores of rupees had been allocated to the Roads and Buildings Department, but the situation on the ground remained “alarming”, with projects yet to move beyond the announcement and tendering stages.
“Nearly half the working season has passed, but not a single road has been taken up for macadamisation or blacktopping. Announcements continue, tenders are issued, but execution is nowhere to be seen,” he said.
The MLA alleged that several projects remained stuck on paper while contractors were protesting against rate contracts, long-pending payments and unpaid liabilities. He said contractors were being asked to execute works at unsustainable rates despite sharp increases in the costs of construction materials, fuel and labour.
Para further claimed that rates had not been revised to reflect rising costs, making it difficult for contractors to undertake works. He also raised concerns over what he termed unnecessary police verification requirements, saying these were causing delays in project execution.
He said the absence of a transparent mechanism for identifying mining sources and assessing royalties had added further uncertainty for contractors.
Expressing concern over the issue, Para said the recent Cabinet meeting failed to address these challenges despite their impact on public infrastructure and development works.
“Every day of delay means worsening roads, wasted public funds and lost development opportunities,” he said.
Para tagged Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary, the Union Home Ministry and the Works Department in his post, seeking intervention in the matter.
