Authorities sit on repairs of dilapidated roads in Downtown

Srinagar, Jan 29: Failure of authorities to undertake repairs of vital roads in Downtown is taking a heavy toll on commuters.

The entire road stretch from Khanyar to Nowhatta has become a major source of inconvenience to commuters. Locals, bus drivers and shopkeepers all also aghast over dilapidated roads.

“It has been nearly three months since authorities dug up this road to lay drainage pipes. However, the way they filled up the road is not as per norms. The filled up portion keeps caving in with passing vehicles. This is creating a lot of problems for people who travel on this road regularly,” said Arshid Ahmad Dar, a local

“We have been complaining for months, but no change is visible on the ground. Our pleas seem to have fallen on deaf ears,” he added.

Abdul Aziz, a 70-year-old local shopkeeper, said, “for over a year, we’ve been struggling with the poor condition of these roads in Downtown. It’s not just about inconvenience, dust has caused health issues. I had to close my shop for two weeks because I got sick from dust billowing from rough roads.”

“It’s a struggle for all of us, and we hope for a quick solution to make our surroundings healthier and our businesses more stable,” he said.

Another local shopkeeper at Khanyar, Abdul Rahim said, people from nearby areas are avoiding visiting the market due to bad road conditions. “It’s affecting our livelihood. Every day, we see vehicles getting stuck on this damaged road and people can’t even park their cars nearby. It’s all because of poorly planned drainage work on this busy stretch,” he said.

Elaborating, he said, “some days ago, a person was at my shop when a local bus passed by, and a stone from the road slipped through one of its tyres, injuring a customer. “Thankfully, nothing serious happened, but the problem persists,” he added.

Ghulam Ahmad (name changed), a smart bus driver, said poor condition of the road at Khanyar poses risk to both vehicles and passengers. “Few days ago, one of our buses got stuck near Khanyar because of an uneven road surface. It took hours to get the bus out of the ditch,” he added.

Suhail Ahmad Bafanda, a 30-year-old passenger, said, “whenever I pass through the Khanyar area, I feel like crossing a steep hill. Many times, the jolts caused injuries to fellow commuters. Bus ride is becoming a safety concern,” he said.

Shoaib Khan, a local resident, rued, “walking on this road is like navigating an obstacle course.” “Elderly people and children face difficulties every day. Uneven surfaces and potholes make it tough for them to move around safely. We often see older people struggling, and parents worry about their kids due to uncovered manholes and ditches on the road,” he said.

Srinagar Smart City Ltd (SSCL) assured completion of pending work by March. “We will put in all efforts to meet the deadline,” said an official of SSCL.

BY Numan Bhat