SHAKEELA ANDRABI
SRINAGAR: The dilapidated roads in Srinagar city and other parts of Kashmir continue to take a toll on commuters and giving a tough time to commuters as majority of roads are strewn with potholes and ditches. The commuters and pedestrians from various areas complained that many roads are not properly maintained by concerned authorities, thereby creating difficulties for transporters and passersby. The commuters further complained that condition of the roads worsen during winters, thereby giving them a harrowing travel experience throughout the year. “Dust emanating from the uneven road surfaces affects our health. Besides, bad road surface directly impacts movement of traffic and often causes traffic snarls,” they alleged.
Commuters further said that poor condition of roads has also resulted in many problems including increase in travel time, water-logging and traffic jams. Moreover, dilapidated roads have made it hard for pedestrians to walk.
People from various other areas of Srinagar’s old city are also facing same problems like city residents due to dilapidated condition of roads. What to say of link-road, even many important roads are facing neglect for years thereby hampering smooth vehicular movement, the locals added.
Residents of Lal Bazar, Khanyar near Govt Gousia Hospital, Bage Ali Mardan Khan, Nowshera, Omer Colony, Lal Bazar, Bagat e shoor-Malla Bagh road, Firdous Colony Eidgah said that dilapidated road of their areas are result of continued neglect and apathy. “Roads in our area from Gojwara to Hazratbal and Soura, Dr Ali Jan Road from Aali Masjid to SKIMS Soura and other adjacent areas are in a dilapidated condition. It has been many years that no repair work has been done. We are facing a huge inconvenience while traveling as roads are not even fit for pedestrians to walk,” local residents told STATE TIMES.
Locals from the outskirts of Hazratbal and Harwan Srinagar said that although patch work was done last year but almost all roads damaged after four to five months due to usage of substandard material. “It has been years since the road was last repaired completely. It is irony that authorities failed to undertake repairs of road,” said a local resident. “We have been moving from pillar to post seeking repairs of road, but no action has been taken so far,” said a local from Srinagar.
On the other hand, an official, when contacted, said that this year many new road projects are being taken up. “Roads that come under R&B jurisdiction will be repaired across Srinagar. We repaired around 200 Km of roads that come under our jurisdiction last year. This year also tenders have been floated and work will start within a few weeks. Majority of Srinagar roads come under SMC now and just 400 Km of major roads come under jurisdiction of R&B, which are being maintained,” he added.
