Dilapidated road condition in Pattan area leaves people distressed

Baramulla, Nov 24: Grappling with the daily inconvenience caused by the dilapidated road condition of the Sonim- Sariwarpora road in Pattan area of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, the locals here have sought immediate attention of the authorities so that their hardships are addressed.

The road, which stretches from Sonim to Sariwarapora via New Colony Pattan, has become a symbol of administration’s apathy, pushing farmers and residents of New Colony to the brink. Despite multiple representations to the authorities, the residents here said that their pleas have fallen on deaf ears, leaving them stranded and in a state of neglect.

Muhammad Ashraf, a local resident, said that the road is a stone’s throw away from Pattan town. He said the road is a lifeline for the villagers, but its deplorable condition has turned it into an arduous journey reminiscent of a remote, backward village.

“For the farming community in the vicinity, the effects of the bad road condition are profound. The road, weaving through the landscape, connects hundreds of kanals of orchard land. However, the nightmarish potholes, often filled with mud, disposables, and wrappers from an over flown drain, make it a daunting task for farmers to traverse the path and carry out their professional activities,” said Ashraf.

Muhammad Shaban another resident said that the sorry state of this road is a hindrance to “our livelihood.”

“We feel isolated, and the neglect is affecting our ability to contribute to the economy,” said Muhammad Shaban, a distressed farmer from the area, highlighting the impact on the local agrarian community.

The road Sonim-Sariwarpora road affects many villages as it passes through several villages which include Sariwarapora, Newran, Yall, Choker, and Sonim.

While expressing their displeasure over the continuous neglect of the area, the locals here said that every section of the society here is affected by the bad condition of the road. They said the worst affected are the students who are unable to catch passenger bus on this route as most of the time drivers prefer to bypass this road as they believe that the deteriorating road condition will cause some damage to their vehicle.

The people of the area have now appealed to the Baramulla district administration to intervene into the matter and settle the issue on priority basis.