The announcement for the Maharajganj-Basantpur road has been made a long time ago, but construction work has yet to begin. There is considerable anger among the villagers over the dilapidated condition of the road.
Patna: With the 2025 assembly elections in Bihar approaching, the political temperature has begun to rise. Meanwhile, the issue of the Maharajganj-Basantpur road has once again come into the spotlight. The villagers' anger has flared to such an extent that they have issued a warning — if construction work does not start soon, they will घेराव (surround and protest) their MP and MLA.
In fact, the repair and reconstruction of the Maharajganj-Basantpur road were announced several times, but work has yet to begin on the ground. The road, built in 2016, has deteriorated to such a state that passing through it during the monsoon season is proving to be like inviting death.
Why did the road built in 2016 break down?
According to the villagers, substandard materials were heavily used in the construction of this road. As a result, potholes appeared in the road within a few months. Local resident Prameet Singh said, “When this road was built, people had already accused them of poor quality. But no one paid attention. The central team also investigated, yet nothing happened in the name of maintenance."
According to the rules, the road was supposed to be maintained for five years, but that maintenance never happened. Now the situation is such that the road is completely broken, and villagers are using this route at the risk of their lives.
Rain has increased the difficulty
The condition of this road worsens during the rains. Potholes filled with mud and water appear like a trap, in which falling incidents have become common. Villagers like Rinku Singh, Sujit Kumar, and Anil Singh say, “During the rains, water from the potholes fills up the road. At night, it's impossible to tell where the pothole is and where the flat ground is.” The villagers also say that if a patient has to be taken to the hospital through this route in an emergency, the situation becomes even more critical.
Anger towards MP-MLA, warning of घेराव
The villagers said that they have appealed to their regional MP and MLA many times, but they have only received assurances every time. Now, people's patience is running out. Swaminath Prasad says, "Every time it is said that the budget will come, the work will start, but the work has been only on paper for five years. If the work doesn't start now, we will घेराव the MLA-MP." The villagers have clearly warned that this time they are ready to आंदोलन (agitate) to demand answers before the elections.
In fact, the Maharajganj-Basantpur road is not just a road, but it connects many villages to the main market and block headquarters. Ambulances, school vehicles, and the supply of medicines and daily necessities depend on this route. This is the reason why people's anger is constantly simmering over the dilapidated condition of this road. The villagers say that if the public representatives cannot fulfill the basic needs of the people, then they should not even ask for votes.
