Bairaj Chawalgami
The condition of roads in Jammu has today reached a point where citizens are questioning whether the city is even moving forward in terms of development or sliding backward into chaos. The recent reports of September 2025, coupled with the lived experiences of residents across different localities, paint a grim and disturbing picture of the road infrastructure in the city. Roads that once served as vital arteries for trade, travel, and daily movement have now been reduced to stretches of potholes, broken surfaces, and misaligned manholes. For commuters, whether they are government employees rushing to offices, traders heading to the city markets, or students travelling to schools and colleges, these roads have turned into veritable traps of inconvenience and danger. The situation is compounded by the continuous heavy rains and flash floods that the region has witnessed this season, which have not only deteriorated road surfaces further but also worsened drainage problems, creating widespread waterlogging. The plight of motorists on certain key routes reflects the urgency of the crisis. The stretch from Camp Road Gole Gujral to Talab Tillo Chowk has virtually ceased to be a road; instead, it is described by residents as a series of craters stitched together by patches of asphalt that collapse within days of repair. The road is so bumpy that people joke there is less road and more pothole, but the grim reality is that this dangerous terrain is leading to accidents, vehicle breakdowns, and avoidable injuries. The situation is not much different on the road from Tomal Anand Nagar Bohri to Jewel Chowk, where the surface has been reduced to rubble. The Akalpur Chowk interior road, connecting to Muthi village, is another glaring example of the government’s indifference to Jammu roads. Already, narrow, this road has been eaten away by potholes, leaving no space for smooth navigation. Residents complain that driving here is less about steering a vehicle and more about navigating obstacles, often forcing drivers onto unsafe edges or into incoming traffic. The condition of all most all roads of Jammu is also similar that is shabby, poor and deplorable.
Traffic jams have become a daily ordeal. From Canal Road to Jewel Chowk, snarls are the order of the day, with bottlenecks lasting for hours, particularly during peak traffic hours. Vehicles slow down to crawl speeds, not due to any traffic management issue alone but largely because drivers must negotiate the broken roads cautiously to save their vehicles from damage. This slowdown cascades into massive congestion, leaving commuters frustrated and wasting precious hours of the day. The road connecting SOS School Gole Gujral to Bhagwati Nagar is another in shambles, a road so riddled with cracks and depressions that school buses, auto-rickshaws, and private cars alike face the daily risk of breakdowns. For parents, this is a source of constant anxiety, as children travelling to school are exposed to unsafe conditions. Beyond mere inconvenience, these roads have now become safety hazards. Open manholes, left without proper covers, present lethal traps, especially during waterlogging when they remain invisible under murky rainwater. Poor or nonexistent street lighting in several areas further compounds the problem, making night driving a gamble with fate. There have been frequent reports of accidents where bikers have skidded over water-filled potholes or pedestrians have fallen while attempting to cross broken stretches. For the elderly and physically vulnerable, merely stepping outside becomes a dangerous exercise in balancing through uneven pavements and submerged craters.
The issue of waterlogging stands out as a chronic problem that worsens the poor condition of the roads. Jammu’s drainage system, already inadequate, has collapsed under the pressure of recent heavy rains. When water accumulates on these already broken roads, it masks the depth and spread of potholes, making navigation treacherous. Pedestrians are forced to wade through ankle-deep or even knee-deep waters, risking both accidents and waterborne diseases. The absence of a systematic drainage upgrade has turned every bout of rainfall into a civic nightmare, with roads becoming temporary ponds and traffic grinding to a halt. The economic impact of this crisis is significant. Vehicle owners are reporting unprecedented wear and tear on their cars, bikes, and even commercial vehicles. Repeated damage to tyres, shock absorbers, and suspensions is draining household budgets. Fuel consumption has also risen as vehicles are forced to run in lower gears and stop-start patterns in endless traffic jams. For commercial vehicles, this means higher operational costs, delays in deliveries, and a cascading effect on local businesses. Traders lament that not only does it affect the transport of goods but also discourages customers from visiting markets in damaged road areas. A city that aspires to expand its trade and industry cannot afford to neglect the foundational infrastructure of its roads, which form the very backbone of economic activity.
Despite the glaring problems, the official response has remained limited and cosmetic. Authorities have attempted to fill potholes using temporary materials like loose gravel and asphalt patches. However, these quick fixes have proved to be short-lived, with rains washing away the patchwork within days, leaving the roads worse than before. This piecemeal approach reflects a lack of long-term planning and commitment to quality. Residents and civic bodies, including members of the Chamber of Commerce & Industry, have repeatedly raised the alarm, filing, complaints and urging authorities to take concrete measures. Community representatives like Thakur Hoshiar Singh have stood with the people in amplifying these concerns, but their calls often meet with bureaucratic silence or half-hearted assurances. What Jammu needs is not stopgap solutions but a comprehensive road infrastructure overhaul. Experts have long argued that the city requires scientifically designed, weather-resistant road surfacing that can withstand both the heavy monsoon rains and the increasing vehicular load. Alongside, a modernized drainage system must be put in place to prevent waterlogging from eroding the road surface repeatedly. Traffic management, too, needs a rethinking, with smoother diversions and better monitoring to prevent endless jams. Street lighting and proper signage are essential safety measures that cannot be overlooked if accidents are to be reduced.
The residents of Jammu are growing restless, and their patience is wearing thin. Their frustration is not misplaced, as daily commutes have become ordeals and their hard-earned money is being drained on avoidable vehicle repairs. Many feel betrayed by the hollow promises of development and smart city projects, which continue to be announced in the media but remain invisible on the ground. For the elderly trying to reach temples or hospitals, for schoolchildren commuting daily, for traders ferrying goods, and for ordinary citizens trying to live a life of dignity, the road crisis of Jammu is not just about infrastructure but about basic rights and civic neglect. It is high time the administration realizes that good roads are not luxuries but necessities. They are the foundations of mobility, safety, and economic vitality. Ignoring them means putting lives at risk, stifling trade, and breeding public anger. Jammu deserves better than crumbling streets and endless jams. The time has come for the authorities to abandon temporary fixes and launch a serious, accountable, and time-bound plan to restore the city’s roads. Anything less would not just be negligence but a betrayal of the people’s trust. Let me conclude this write up with an Urdu couplet which is as, “Hukumat Nam Hai Sabsae Beheas Hoona Ka”.