Deadly Potholes on NH-343: Rain Exposes the Hollow Promises of “Development”
NBS Digital 
Ambikapur: Continuous rainfall in the Surguja division has turned into a calamity for the people-but the real disaster appears to be the government’s sheer negligence. The administration, which boasts of rapid development and smooth highways, now finds its hollow promises drowned in rainwater. The pathetic condition of National Highway-343 near Ambikapur has transformed the road into a virtual death trap-more like a waterlogged pond than a functioning highway.
Near Asola village, massive potholes have formed on NH-343. These craters, now filled with rainwater, have made large stretches of the road practically disappear. Commuters, from pedestrians to heavy vehicles, are forced to risk their lives navigating this dilapidated route. The so-called pre-monsoon patchwork was merely cosmetic—it didn’t even last a month. As soon as the rains arrived, the road surface collapsed again, revealing the true quality of the government’s work.
Local residents and travelers are compelled to endure this dangerous road every single day. Accidents have become routine, yet the administration remains indifferent and unresponsive. This raises serious questions—are governments elected just to make promises and print posters? On paper, the roads shine. In reality, there’s only mud, potholes, and disregard for human life.
For years, successive governments have only made announcements about repairing NH-343, but the ground reality remains unchanged. Before every election, promises are made to fix the road—but the work never actually begins. Ironically, this highway, used by thousands daily, remains the most ignored by the authorities.
Let the government answer: Whose “good days” are these? Is the common citizen only kept alive to cast votes? If the government can’t even provide basic infrastructure like proper roads, then what value do these empty slogans of development hold?
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