Dilapidated roads hit vehicular movement in Srinagar

Srinagar, Apr 28:  Slow pace work on Smart City road projects is taking a heavy toll on commuters in the summer capital.

Dug up roads and lying around material on roads in Downtown has severely affected smooth vehicular movement.

Locals said that following heavy rains, the dug-up roads, coupled with the lack of safety measures around work sites, have put the safety of pedestrians and commuters at risk.

Locals said that despite the passing of several months the vital Nowpora road, connecting Uptown with Downtown, is hitting traffic flow. They said the heaps of construction material lying around the construction site at Nowpora poses risk to the commuters.

“The road stretch at Nowpora has become a nightmare for commuters and the locals in the area. The roads are already inadequate and now the slow pace of work on the road is taking a toll on us. On a daily basis, accidents are occurring around construction sites in Srinagar and authorities have closed their eyes,” Atif Ahmad, a commuter, said.

The locals in Downtown, Khanyar, Nowhatta, Nawab Bazar, and adjoining areas said that amid the darkness due to power cuts, the elderly and other pedestrians are at risk of accidents.

The locals said that following the drainage works, barricades and dumped material in Downtown is hindering movement of traffic and increasing the risk of accidents.

“Due to these issues, travelers in passenger buses, e-rickshaws, and smart city buses have had narrow escapes in Downtown multiple times in the past few months. All construction sites should be properly maintained, along with safety measures to avoid accidents and hinder traffic,” said Sajad Ahmad, a commuter.

A senior official from Srinagar Smart City said that they are coordinating with contractors to ensure safety measures and least inconvenience to commuters and locals.

"We are working round the clock at places like Karan Nagar, Downtown, and Jahangir Chowk. We were planning to blacktop some roads during these days, but the rains delayed that. We are continuously taking feedback and coordinating accordingly. Actually, work is ongoing at many places simultaneously, which is making it a bit difficult at times," he said.