Inordinate delay in widening forest roads irks motorists in Asifabad

Several key roads passing through forests in Kumram Bheem Asifabad district remain narrow and badly damaged due to delayed forest clearances. Motorists face hardships every monsoon, while officials and public representatives continue to blame each other for the delay.

Kumram Bheem Asifabad: Certain important roads passing through forests have been damaged extensively due to rains in different parts of the district, causing hardships to motorists.

Single-lane blacktop roads between Penchikalpet and Sulugupalli, Vempalli and Donabanda, Dabba-Salugupalli, Tiryani-Asifabad and from many other interior villages and mandal centres across the district were laid decades ago. They remain vital links for rural people, enabling access to towns for various needs including medical emergencies, education and livelihood. The roads pass through reserve forests and are located in Kawal Tiger Reserve.

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Although proposals to widen the roads were prepared in the past, the development projects were stalled after the forest department denied permission, citing potential adverse impact on wildlife and protection of the wild. The officials and local public representatives continue to blame each other for the inordinate delay.

Forest officials said that 13 proposed roads and bridges in forests of the district were cancelled due to lack of clearance from the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) in 2024. Special eco-bridges should be constructed to get the clearance to lay the roads. They allege that public representatives show negligence in getting clearances.

Public representatives argue that the cost of the wildlife mitigation measure is higher than that of widening the roads, causing the delay. They raise the issue during general body meetings of Zilla Parishad council and express anger against forest officials for hindering the development projects.

However, the roads are battered afresh every monsoon, leaving motorists to struggle on the pockmarked stretches. They are being repaired temporarily by leaders of political parties and local police following the monsoon, bringing relief to motorists in winter and summer. However, the long-term problem remains unsolved.

Meanwhile, social media influencers are posting videos of the damaged roads, criticising the government. They urged public representatives and officials to widen the roads by working in tandem. They regretted that commuting on a 10-km-long potholed road was taking at least an hour, causing financial burden.