Congress Worker Announces Cash Reward to Expose Vadodara's Deteriorating Road Infrastructure
In a dramatic move to spotlight the crumbling infrastructure in Vadodara, a local Congress worker has launched a unique cash reward initiative targeting the city's notorious potholes and cave-ins. The Akota–Mujmahuda area, encompassing parts of Atladara and adjoining regions, has become the epicenter of this public outcry as residents grapple with dangerously degraded roads.
Rs 1,000 Challenge for a Pothole-Free Stretch
Rakesh Thakor, the president of Ward 12 Congress, has publicly offered a reward of Rs 1,000 to any individual who can identify a continuous road segment measuring between one and 1.5 kilometers without any potholes or patchwork within the ward. This challenge covers the extensive localities of Akota, Mujmahuda, Atladara, and surrounding neighborhoods, where road conditions have reportedly deteriorated to alarming levels.
"I have been moving around since morning with the banner, but no one has approached me with proof of a pothole-free road. I am sure there is no such road in the ward," Thakor stated on Thursday, emphasizing the severity of the issue. He has prominently displayed a banner on his SUV announcing the offer and has actively encouraged residents to submit video evidence of any intact road stretches.
Post-Flood Road Damage Exacerbates Long-Standing Issues
The roads in Akota and Mujmahuda have been in a state of disrepair for an extended period, but the situation has significantly worsened following the devastating floods of 2024. These natural disasters caused extensive damage to the road network across the area, leading to an increase in both potholes and dangerous cave-ins that now pose daily hazards to commuters and pedestrians alike.
Thakor further criticized the municipal authorities, alleging that the road directly opposite the Ward 12 office of the Vadodara Municipal Corporation itself remains in poor condition. "Apart from potholes and cave-ins, roads across the ward have been repeatedly dug up by the civic body for various works," he added, pointing to ongoing civic projects that have further compromised road integrity without proper restoration.
A Symbolic Protest Against Civic Neglect
This cash reward scheme serves as a symbolic protest against what Thakor and local residents perceive as persistent civic neglect. By putting financial incentive behind the search for quality infrastructure, the Congress worker aims to generate broader public awareness and pressure municipal officials to prioritize urgent road repairs and maintenance.
The initiative underscores growing frustration among Vadodara's citizens regarding basic urban amenities and highlights how political activism is increasingly focusing on tangible quality-of-life issues rather than purely ideological debates.
