Roads in Srinagar city make life vulnerable for local residents

SHAKEELA ANDRABI

SRINAGAR: People are paying a heavy toll as the conditions of roads in Srinagar city are very bad. Despite crossing deadlines for repairs, vital roads in Srinagar are awaiting repairs, including Nowpora, Khanyar, Bohri Kadal, Nawab Bazar, Nowhatta, Qamarwari, Noor Bagh, Safakadal, and Khawaja Bazar to Nowhatta, are dotted with potholes.
As a result, not only traffic jams are taking place but people are also facing problems due to damage to vehicles.
Frustration among commuters is evident, especially regarding the authorities’ failure to address the dismal condition of the Khanyar-Nowpora Road and Nowhatta Khawja bazar Road , which connect Downtown and Uptown areas. In most of the city areas, the road repair was abandoned after laying drainage pipes in the past six months. Beside this, Srinagar Municipal Corporation completely failed to address the basic problems of the people during its tenure because of internal tussle between Mayor, Deputy Mayor and Corporators. With the result macadamisation was not started in Srinagar city during this year.
Numerous complaints and pleas from commuters are falling on deaf ears, as authorities struggle to address the pressing issue effectively. Adding to the predicament, both the Srinagar Municipal Corporation and the Roads and Buildings Department are engaged in a blame game, passing buck on repairs of roads.
Executive Engineer, City Roads Division, SMC told the STATE TIMES that the repair work, including internal roads in Downtown and other areas, is scheduled for April next year.
“Mostly, internal roads need macadamisation once the work will be completed under Smart City. Subsequently all roads will be repaired. We have made a plan as well,” he said.
Commuters are also displeased with the authorities’ neglect of Downtown’s major link routes. Local businesses are also feeling the impact, reporting a decline in customers due to the inconvenience caused by the deteriorating infrastructure.
Meanwhile, Commissioner SMC, Athar Aamir Khantook took a serious note of displeasure of commuters and business establishment owners over slow pace of work. He undertook a visit to the Downtown areas of Srinagar and reviewed the progress of the ongoing smart city projects there.
Accompanied by Chief Engineer SSCL, Executive Engineers, AEEs SSCL and senior officials from SSCL, SMC and Allied Departments, the CEO SSCL personally assessed the progress registered at various project sites during the extensive tour.
He said the purpose of the visit is to review the current status of the Smart City projects in Downtown and ensure their timely completion to avoid inconvenience to commuters.