Caught Between Promises and Delays: Marmat Doda Residents Endure Long Wait for Roads and Relief

Caught Between Promises and Delays: Marmat Doda Residents Endure Long Wait for Roads and Relief

@Sheraz_Fareed

Marmat, a remote region in the Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir, continues to suffer due to broken infrastructure and government apathy. Roads in the area are either damaged, incomplete, or missing altogether. Whether it’s the main route from Khellani to the Tehsil Headquarters at Goha, or any other link road in Marmat, daily travel remains a serious challenge for the locals.

One of the worst-affected spots is Khank Nala, where the absence of a bridge has turned life into a daily struggle. Locals — including school children, elderly citizens, and patients — are forced to cross the stream on foot, a risk that becomes life-threatening during the rainy season.

The situation becomes even more dangerous when someone falls seriously ill. During bad weather, the condition of Khank Nala makes it nearly impossible to shift a patient to any nearby hospital. Vehicles can’t cross the stream safely, and people are left helpless, waiting for the weather to improve — often putting lives at risk.

What adds to the frustration is the fact that construction of the Khank Nala bridge had already started. Machinery was brought in, and initial groundwork had begun. But soon after, the project came to a complete halt — reportedly due to a lack of planning, coordination, and official support. Today, the machines and materials lie abandoned, and the bridge remains incomplete.

The recent spell of heavy rain exposed this vulnerability once again. With no bridge and poor road connectivity, several areas were completely cut off. Vehicles couldn’t cross the stream, students missed school, patients couldn’t be moved, and essentials couldn’t reach the people. Life stood still — all because of one unfinished bridge.

Marmat has waited for years — with little more than promises. Now, locals are questioning the silence, the delays, and the failure of successive administrations.

Their demand is not luxury — it’s basic infrastructure: safe roads, a working bridge, and timely maintenance. These are essentials, not privileges.

It’s time for the government to stop ignoring Marmat. The incomplete bridge at Khank Nala and the broken road network are not just technical problems — they are everyday hardships affecting thousands of lives