Suhail Bhat
SRINAGAR, May 16: Commuters across the Valley are having a difficult time because majority of the roads are strewn with potholes as they were not filled so far after winter and neither macadamization was started.
The authorities attributed the delays to fluctuating raw-material rates caused by the Ukraine war.
According to motorists, traveling through some parts of the city has become a nightmare for them, as unkempt roads frequently cause traffic jams and vehicle damage. Two-wheelers are the most vulnerable, as they struggle to navigate through deep ditches and occasionally lose control.
According to Senior Superintendent of Police, Traffic, Muzaffar Ahmad Shah, bad roads cause traffic congestion, and if the roads are repaired, traffic will flow smoothly throughout the city. “Poor roads cause vehicles to slow down, resulting in traffic congestion and pile-ups. If the city’s roads are in good shape, we will be able to eliminate all traffic congestion,” he said, adding that they’ve raised the issue with the Roads and Buildings department, and that some internal issues are delaying road repair.
He said that the Natipora Junction and Ali-Jan roads are classic examples of traffic congestion caused by bad roads. “We have even made some interventions, but bad roads are hampering our initiates,” he said.
For a long time, the road from Qamawari-Parimpora on the outskirts of Srinagar, which leads to the valley’s premier healthcare institute, SKIMS, and Srinagar Bypass at Parimpora on the outskirts of the city have been in terrible shape. The roads connecting the city’s interiors are in the worst condition, with deep pits making them dangerous for vehicles, including two-wheelers. The roads are littered with pits and deep ditches, causing commuters numerous problems.
“Since last month, my bike has broken several times, and I’ve spent a significant portion of my salary on repairs. Furthermore, the large craters on the road endanger the lives of two-wheelers, “Javeed Ahmad, a local from Srinagar, said, adding that authorities should take immediate action to restore all damaged roads, at least temporarily.
According to commuters, the condition of the roads deteriorated during the winter but the authorities failed to repair them. They claimed that they frequently travel to the district headquarters for healthcare, education, and governance issues but that the dilapidated state of the roads connecting their areas to these commercial hubs is a source of inconvenience for the people.
The roads in Kashmir’s southern and northern regions have been severely damaged, with some of their upper surfaces completely eroded. Several roads in north Kashmir are in poor condition, including Kanlibagh-Babarishi, Dangiwacha-Pazalpora, Sheeri-Malpora, Bonyar-Trikangal, Pehlipora-Zamboora Pathan, NoorKhan-Salamabad Dachna, Uri- Namla road, Pattan-Tangamrg road, Sheikpora-Tangmarg. “Despite their importance for district connectivity, the road has not been repaired. Almost all of the roads are in terrible shape. It demonstrates the authorities’ seriousness about rural connectivity,” said Burhan Ahmad, a local.
Similarly, some key roads in Anantag district, such as Dooru-Verigan, Mattan-Chetrugul, Jaglandmadi-Achabal, Munwar- Palpora, Monghal-Hevan, and Dalgam- Brenthi Batpora, require immediate attention. The situation is no different in Pulwama district, where commuters face difficulties on roads such as Pulwama -Shopian, Pulwama -Pampore, and Pampore-Dalgate.
“On the one hand, the government has raised fuel prices while failing to provide us with better roads. Due to the uneven road surface, our maintenance costs have doubled,” said Abdul Rashid, a local driver. He added that the dust from the uneven road surface is harmful the health as well.
Rafiq Ahmad, Chief Engineer for the Roads and Buildings Department, told Excelsior that they have floated tenders for the restoration and macdamisation of roads across Kashmir, and that work will begin in next two week. “We have floated tenders, and work will begin in two weeks,” he said.
He added that the delay in block topping was caused by fluctuating rates, and that “the response to tenders was slow due to a rise in the cost of raw materials, which caused the process to be delayed. All of the issues have been resolved, and the works have been re-tendered.”
He said that there were some problems with city roads, but that the Srinagar Municipality had also issued tenders and that work would begin soon.
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