JAMMU, Sep 30: Raising strong concern over the deteriorating and hazardous condition of roads across Jammu city, Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray), J&K unit, on Wednesday staged a symbolic ‘Pothole Puja’ protest near Shakuntala Cinema Chowk, led by Pradesh President Manish Sahni, to draw the attention of the government and administration towards the deep and dangerous potholes dotting city roads.
During the protest, photographs highlighting the poor condition of roads and hazardous potholes in Panama Chowk, Narwal, Talab Tillo, Bantalab and other parts of the city were displayed.
Sahni said, “The potholes that the government should have filled are now becoming the identity of Jammu’s roads.” He questioned, “Is this Smart Jammu or a City of Potholes?”
Sahni said that at several locations beyond Panama Chowk, potholes measuring one to one-and-a-half feet in depth have become a serious threat, particularly to two-wheeler riders, schoolchildren and senior citizens. Citing 2025 road accident figures, he said Jammu district recorded 949 road accidents, claiming 215 lives and injuring 1,205 people.
Referring to the Jammu Municipal Corporation’s reported AI-based road-monitoring system and a pothole-patching machine costing around Rs 1.3 crore, Sahni questioned, “When the technology and machinery are available, why are people still being forced to travel through potholes?”
He termed it an irony that “the government is unable to fill potholes, but in the name of widening roads, it is readily demolishing people’s shops and snatching away their livelihoods.”
Shiv Sena demanded an immediate technical survey of major and internal roads, war-footing repairs of accident-prone potholes, and permanent blacktopping of severely damaged roads.
Sahni warned that if immediate corrective action is not taken, Shiv Sena would launch a wider public movement over the issue. On this occasion Sanjeev Kohli , Sanjay Bhat , Aditya Mahajan , Raju Kapoor , Ansh Kapoor , Tarsam Kumar, Viney Goswami and many others were present.