The curious case of roads being built when elections are due

The internal roads of Kailash Colony in south Delhi were relaid almost overnight in March last year. The reason: The civic polls were just round the corner.

Kailash Colony's wasn't a one-off case. Most Delhiites claim that civic agencies wake up only when elections are due as there's pressure on them to get their act together. 

 

Claimed Dr Lalit Verma, a resident of Haiderpur near Rohini Sector 18, "The road to Haiderpur from Outer Ring Road was last built nearly four years ago, when the general elections were due. Immediately after the polls, it was dug up. Since then, it has been in a shambles. Councillors and MLAs usually use their funds when polls are due in order to get votes. Many of them even put up boards and posters, claiming how they got a particular road built."

But many politicians claimed this was not the case. "We try to construct roads as and when required. But sometimes, the executive wing delays the project and it coincides with elections. But it is true that every councillor and MLA wants to exhaust their funds before the elections as they are accountable to the public," said Mahender Nagpal, leader of north Delhi Municipal Corporation.

Jagdish Mukhi, Janakpuri MLA, said, "I work 365 days a year. But dense carpeting can only be done after five years. Some councillors save their funds and try to get votes by completing work around elections. But I don't believe in such cheap tactics." 

The situation in some colonies is so bad that many have started believing that holding elections every year is the best way to bring about development. "That work gets done almost overnight when elections are due affirms the fact that civic agencies have the expertise to do their jobs. The problem is they don't want to work," said Harvinder Singh, a member of Lajpat Nagar III RWA.

"There have been instances when the road roller is put to use when the people are going to cast their votes. But the roller stopped, when voting got over. It is easy to get work done whenever polls are due. Those same councillors become inaccessible for the rest of their tenure," said BS Vohra, president of east Delhi RWA.

with thanks : Hindustan Times : LINK