2-lane road widening on Baramulla-Uri stretch raises quality concerns

Baramulla, Apr 10: Residents of Uri and adjoining areas have voiced serious concerns over the ongoing Baramulla-Uri road widening project, alleging that the work is not being executed as per the official specifications. The project, undertaken by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), is meant to transform the Baramulla-Uri stretch into a standard two-lane highway as part of the larger Srinagar-Uri road widening initiative. Locals claim that the BRO is carrying out only minor expansions, nowhere close to a proper two-lane road. “It looks more like a footpath than a highway expansion,” said Wajid Ahmad, a resident of Boniyar. The residents are particularly distressed over the alleged indiscriminate felling of deodar trees by the executing agency. "Scores of Deodar trees have been axed in the name of road widening. It is a serious environmental concern," said one local.

The residents fear irreversible ecological damage if the afforestation promises are not met.

Deputy Commissioner Baramulla, Minga Sherpa, while responding to media queries on Thursday, acknowledging the complaints received from the public. “We have received multiple complaints regarding the road widening by the BRO. These concerns have been communicated to the higher authorities of the BRO,” Deputy Commissioner Baramulla said. He assured that the BRO has committed to a comprehensive afforestation initiative. “For every deodar tree felled, double the number will be planted by the BRO to compensate for the loss,” he added. Many are questioning the transparency and accountability in the execution of the road widening by the BRO. “The road widening project is vital for the areas connectivity and economy. It must be carried out strictly as per design and specifications. The agency should be held responsible,” said another local resident.

The Baramulla-Uri two-lane upgrade is a key component of the Srinagar-Baramulla four-lane project, which is a flagship infrastructure initiative by the J&K administration aimed at boosting regional connectivity.  The Srinagar-Baramulla stretch has seen significant progress, particularly in four major packages—Narbal-Pattan, Tapper-Sangrama, Sangrama flyover, and Delina flyover—covering over 96 hectares of land. While the broader project advances smoothly, the discrepancies in the Baramulla-Uri section threaten to undermine public trust and environmental safeguards.