In the 2003 elections, the BJP’s Chief ministerial candidate Uma Bharati had based her campaign on the deplorable condition of roads and the failure of the government to provide uninterrupted power supply. During her campaign, she used to blame Digvijay Singh—the then Chief Minister—for the sorry state of affairs. Digvijay Singh, at that time, was in the tenth year of his office. No other Chief Minister has, so far, been able to rule the state that long. While holding Digvijay Singh responsible for the bad roads and severe power crunch, Uma Bharati assured the people that if voted to power, the BJP would ensure that the State has motorable roads and there is no shortage of electricity.

It is now eight years since that promise was made but there has been no significant improvement on the front of roads and electricity in the state. And the potholed roads are again emerging as a major issue in the State. Presently, a blame-game is on between the ruling BJP and the main opposition Congress on the issues of roads.

The BJP’s strategy is to put the blame at the Centre’s door. All the BJP MPs from the state, last week, sat on a dharna on the premises of the Parliament blaming the Centre for the poor roads in the State and alleging that the Centre was not releasing adequate funds for maintaining the National Highways passing through the state. The Congress, however, insists that the boot is on the other leg. The BJP has also decided to put up hoardings on NHs saying that “this road does not belong to the state government. The Centre is responsible for its poor state”. The State Congress President Kantilal Bhuria has threatened to put up similar hoardings on state highways.

The CM also met the Union surface transport minister CP Joshi in New Delhi and complained to him about the Union government’s failure to maintain roads in the state

Like any other state, MP too has three classes of roads-National highways, state highways and other roads. The state government maintains the state highways and other roads while the responsibility of maintaining the National Highways lies with the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) which functions under the Union government.

The total length of roads in the state (including NHs) is 80 thousand kms, of which 70 thousand kms. is under the State Public Works department. The total length of NHs passing through the state is 4709 kms, of which 3827 kms is maintained by the NHAI. The remaining length of NHs is also being maintained by the state PWD. It is thus apparent that the Centre is responsible for only around 4000 kms. of the 80000 kms. roads in the state i.e. around five percent. However, since these roads happen to be important ones and they link big towns and cities, much hue and cry is being raised over their poor condition. In the last 19 months, more than 18 thousand lives have been lost in road accidents in the state. Though poor condition of the roads may not have been responsible for all the mishaps, but it is a major factor in making the roads unsafe for the public.

The Congress says that the BJP is being unfair in blaming the Centre for the poor roads. “Look at the roads in Bhopal. Is the Central government responsible for their pitiable condition?” asks leader of opposition in the assembly Ajay Singh. The PCC chief says that the road contractors close to the ruling party were minting money by building roads not meeting the specified standards. “We will give a befitting reply to their attempt to put the Centre in the dock on this issue”, he says.

Even as the politicians wrangle with each other, the people of the state continue to suffer. (IPA Service)