Anger, shock in Bandipora as district left out of `10,600Cr J&K highway, tunnel projects
Bandipora, Jun 24: A wave of anger and disbelief has swept across Bandipora district—including Sumbal, Gurez and Bandipora divisions —after the region was again overlooked in a major infrastructure announcement by the central government.
On Monday, the Centre approved `10,637 crore in tunnel and road projects aimed at enhancing connectivity and infrastructure across Jammu and Kashmir.
However, Bandipora district received no mention or allocation in the project list, sparking widespread public outrage and escalating political tensions.
For years, both former and current politicians have championed the campaign for national‑highway status for the accident-prone Bandipora–Sumbal–Gurez road.
There has also been a persistent demand for a tunnel to Gurez due to the region’s harsh winters.
The MLAs from across the district—including ruling National Conference’s Hilal Akbar Lone (Sumbal), Nazir Ahmad Khan (Gurez) and Congress’s Nizamuddin Bhat (Bandipora)—have repeatedly raised these issues among the public and in the J&K Assembly.
Bhat earlier wrote to Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Jairam Gadkari, assuring residents that the project was imminent.
The latest exclusion has left residents stunned and furious, with social media now brimming with accusations and political sparring.
“In this modern era, we feel like we are living in ancient times, given the condition of the roads,” said Imtiyaz Mir, a local resident, recalling a distressing journey with a patient to Srinagar, which took over two and a half hours due to poor road conditions.
Suhail Ahmad Haji accused the central government of exploiting Bandipora’s resources while ignoring its infrastructure needs, referencing the Kishanganga Hydroelectric Power Project.
“This district is an example of living in the darkness under a lamp,” he said.
Echoing this sentiment, Javid Ahmad Najjar said that Bandipora has always been ignored.
The hospitality sector in Gurez has also voiced its disappointment over the latest exclusion.
President of Hoteliers Association Gurez, Ghulam Nabi Lone said it was unfortunate that Gurez has been ignored once again despite being the only area that remains cut off for months in winter, while places like Karnah and Tangdhar reopen much sooner.
"The road was once part of the ancient Silk Route to Central Asia and holds immense historical and strategic importance. During elections, every leader turns this road and the Gurez tunnel promise into a slogan and later forgets it,” he said.
He further pointed out that despite Bandipora housing Asia’s largest freshwater lake and Gurez recently winning two national gold awards in rural border tourism, these achievements remain on paper, benefiting departments, not people.
“If after 79 years of independence we are still struggling for basic road connectivity, then all these grand claims of development are nothing but a farce,” he said.
Political tensions swelled further when former MLA Usman Majid tweeted: “So, today the central government approved `10,600 crore worth of projects for J&K. Great news—unless you’re from Bandipora. Because once again, the historically significant and strategically vital Bandipora‑Sumbal Road is nowhere on the list.”
He also took a swipe at current MLA Nizamuddin Bhat, saying: “Our MLA, who used to deliver grand speeches before elections, seems to have misplaced both his voice and promises.”
Defending himself, MLA Bhat told Greater Kashmir that National highways are decided by the Union Surface Transport Ministry.
"The UT government has a recommendatory role only. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had twice conveyed the demand for national highway status to the road," he said.
