Call for Independent Audits as J&K’s
Avinash Azad
The Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), a flagship rural road connectivity scheme launched by then-Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on December 25, 2000, aimed to connect every village in India with quality road infrastructure. However, in Jammu and Kashmir, the scheme has turned into a symbol of rampant corruption and substandard work, exposing a deep nexus between contractors and government officials.
Recently, Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary publicly acknowledged the poor quality of work on PMGSY projects during a high-level meeting. While he emphasized that “no compromise with the quality of works will be tolerated,” his verbal orders alone seem insufficient to tackle systemic corruption. Experts believe that an independent audit of just 10 percent of roads built under PMGSY would unravel a web of financial irregularities and substandard construction practices.
Over the past 24 years, hundreds of crores of rupees have been pumped into PMGSY projects in Jammu and Kashmir. Despite this, many roads built under the scheme are in deplorable condition. This raises serious concerns about the quality of construction and accountability for public funds. Sources allege that a well-oiled nexus between civil contractors and officials in the Rural Development Department has resulted in the siphoning of funds meant for defect liability periods, which are rarely enforced.
A glaring example of the systemic rot is the lack of transparency in the tendering process and public scrutiny. While the UT administration has launched the Janbhagidari Portal to promote public participation in development, the platform offers only superficial information. Complete project details, including cost, agency details, and timelines, remain inaccessible. Similarly, the official tendering portal , fails to provide comprehensive details of awarded contracts, keeping the public in the dark.
Without public access to critical information, the quality of works remains questionable. Experts argue that public participation is the only way to ensure accountability. Citizens should have access to all project details, including financial disclosures, work timelines, and contractor performance.
“The absence of transparency is a breeding ground for corruption,” said a senior bureaucrat on the condition of anonymity. “Unless the government enforces stringent mechanisms and enables public scrutiny, this trend will continue unchecked.”
Deputy Chief Minister Choudhary’s remarks echo past assurances from higher officials, which have yet to translate into ground-level reforms. To address the issue, the government must institute independent audits, overhaul tendering processes, and make defect liability funds traceable.
The Hidden News has launched a detailed investigation into the condition of PMGSY roads in J&K. Once the research concludes, a comprehensive report will expose the magnitude of corruption and mismanagement. With years of promises and negligible action, it’s time for the government to shift from rhetoric to tangible reform. Stay tuned as The Hidden News brings you an in-depth look at the state of PMGSY roads in Jammu and Kashmir.
