Facelift Before the Visit, Is Poonch’s Development Reserved for Political Spectacle?

As Roads Are Repaired for Ministerial Visit, PWD Faces Public Scrutiny Over Years of Inaction

Toseef R Ganai
Poonch, J&K – With an important political visit on the horizon, Poonch town is witnessing a surge in civic activity. Roads are being freshly blacktopped, all seemingly in preparation to impress a high-ranking dignitary. Yet, while the surface gleams, deep discontent simmers underneath.
For years, residents have travelled on potholed roads, endured crumbling infrastructure, and repeatedly petitioned for basic repairs. Those appeals were largely met with silence. Now, in the space of just a few days, the same agencies that once pleaded helplessness are suddenly mobilised and highly efficient.
This stark contrast has provoked public outrage and serious questions: Where was the Public Works Department (PWD) all these years? Why did the district administration fail to act until a VIP visit forced their hand? And most crucially is development in Poonch only triggered by political optics?
The PWD, entrusted with maintaining vital infrastructure, has been sharply criticised for what residents are calling “selective urgency.” While the main stretch from the Bus Stand to the Sports Stadium has been meticulously upgraded, adjacent areas and crucial rural connectors such as roads leading to religious sites and remote habitations remain in disrepair.
“It is insulting that our daily struggles are ignored until the moment the town becomes a stage for official visits,” remarked a resident. “Should governance respond only when power is watching?”
The district administration, too, is under the spotlight. Several departments have sprung into coordinated action, installing decorative lighting, repainting walls, and cleaning public spaces all with a precision rarely seen during routine civic life. This has led many to question whether these efforts are sincere attempts at development or merely a temporary charade designed to curate a favourable impression.
“Is the role of the administration to serve the people or to serve the moment?” asked another concerned citizen.
Civic groups argue that this behaviour reflects a deeper governance malaise. There is growing concern that institutional accountability has eroded, replaced by performative action tailored to political events. The idea that infrastructure repair depends on the presence of dignitaries is both demoralising and undemocratic.
Furthermore, the glaring imbalance in development, where highly visible areas are prioritised while peripheral and less ‘important’ zones are ignored raises questions of equity and fairness.
The PWD’s sudden efficiency, once viewed as commendable, is now being interpreted as an admission, they could have acted earlier, but simply chose not to.
As the district adorns itself in anticipation of a ministerial convoy, residents are no longer simply asking for clean roads. They are demanding accountability, transparency, and most importantly, respect.
The central question remains:
Has the district administration and PWD reduced governance to a ceremonial exercise activated only for the powerful, while the public is left waiting in silence?