Union Road Transport & Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari says that all the potholes in the country's national highways will be closed and fixed by next December. For the time being, we can believe the words of the uncompromising minister who thinks that there should be a connection between words and deeds. Road travel is a nightmare for people anywhere in the country today. To reach the goal, one has to cross paths that are cracked and have craters formed all over. In the past, at least the national highways were well-made and maintained throughout the year. Today, only broken roads can be seen everywhere. Even the condition of the national highways, which are not very old, is very deplorable. National highway upgrading and widening is being done on war footing across the country. The law has been amended to make road maintenance the responsibility of contractors for a specified period of time while constructing new roads. However, those who travel by road across the country realize that the condition of the roads is not that much better.

Pothole-free roads are a big dream for vehicle owners and commuters. A smooth road trip not only extends the life of the vehicle but also the passenger. A good percentage of the lakhs of road accidents that occur in the country every year are caused by potholes and cracks. Not only two-wheelers, but other vehicles also get into accidents while trying to avoid potholes that are seen unexpectedly.

If the Union Minister's promise that all national highways will be made pothole-free and fully passable by December comes true, it will be the beginning of a new change. It should not be particularly difficult when the Department of Transport has the manpower and means to maintain the roads in good condition. Planning and implementing the necessary action programs should be enough. There is no dearth of technical experts and skilled workers in the country. Not only national highways but also state highways should be maintained flawlessly throughout the year and made passable. Whichever the roads are, they are used by people. Special departments in central and state and public works departments should be fully functional for maintenance purposes exclusively. It should be ensured that at least a portion of the huge amount of money collected from vehicle owners as vehicle tax, toll and cess is utilized for road protection. At present, most of the money collected in this way is used by the governments for other purposes.

The Union Minister's decision to introduce a permanent system for fixing the potholes on national highways should be implemented without delay. Things that are good and beneficial to the people, should not be delayed. The possibility of using solid waste in road construction is also being explored. This is already being experimented with in some places. The possibility of recycling the solid waste that poses an environmental threat in cities would be a boon. People can now start dreaming about the good times when the road potholes that disturb the sleep of motorists will be gone. Let's hope the announcement doesn't go to waste.