Public trust will depend not on sanctioned crores but on whether Kashmir finally gets lasting and equitable road connectivity
The government’s approval of a massive road macadamisation plan across Kashmir has generated a sense of expectation that is both understandable and justified. With over 558 kilometres of roads identified for macadamisation and an outlay of around Rs 223 crore, the scale of the plan is substantial. On paper, it signals intent. On the ground, however, the people of Kashmir have learned to treat such announcements with caution. They have seen too many roads being dug up, resurfaced, damaged and then taken up again in an endless cycle of wasteful expenditure and poor workmanship. That cycle must end. Kashmir does not need another headline-grabbing road plan that fades into dust, potholes and public anger within months. It needs roads that last. More importantly, it needs all-weather roads that can withstand rain, snow, flooding, heavy traffic and official neglect. Road connectivity in Kashmir is not a matter of convenience alone. It is a matter of economic survival, public safety and social access. A damaged road can delay a patient, disrupt a student’s daily commute, isolate villages during bad weather, and impose heavy costs on transporters, traders and ordinary commuters. In a place with a harsh climate and difficult terrain, all-weather roads are not a luxury. They are an essential public necessity. This is why the present plan must be judged not by kilometres sanctioned but by quality delivered. E-tendering, restrictions on splitting works and official supervision are welcome safeguards, but rules on paper will mean little unless corruption is checked, contractors are held accountable, and engineers ensure strict adherence to standards. Every road laid under this plan must be built for endurance, not for ceremonial completion. The government must also address the perception of political favouritism. The concentration of major road works in Kupwara and Ganderbal will naturally raise questions. If there are sound administrative and technical reasons for these allocations, they should be placed transparently before the public. Development loses moral force when fairness is doubted. The Valley is tired of temporary fixes. It needs a road policy that is rooted in durability, climate resilience and regional justice. If this macadamisation drive produces strong, all-weather roads across Kashmir, it will earn public trust. If it delivers another season of patchwork and excuses, it will stand exposed as yet another costly failure.