Dilapidated roads take toll on commuters in Srinagar

Srinagar, Nov 28: Deteriorating condition of roads in the summer capital remains a pressing concern, severely affecting commuters.

Ironically Srinagar Municipal Corporation and Roads and Buildings department are passing buck at each other for the neglect. The on-going construction work has further damaged already dilapidated roads, making commuting challenging due to potholes, debris, and uneven surfaces.

Inhabitants of areas such as Habba Kadal, Rainawari, Khanyar, Khayam, Munwarabad, Bohri Kadal, as well as uptown areas like Rambagh inner circles and Natipora complain about the pathetic conditions of roads.
The frustration among commuters is evident, particularly regarding the authorities' failure to address the dismal state of the Khanyar-Nowpora road, which was excavated months ago for drainage pipe
installation.

Residents of Nowhatta, Makhdoom Sahab locality and Gojwara expressed resentment over the toll that dilapidated roads are taking on their daily lives.
Commuters are displeased with the authorities' neglect of Downtown's major link route, specifically the Bachi Darwaza-Islamia College link road.

The road adjacent to the Makhdoom Sahab (RA) Shrine is riddled with potholes and neglect, causing inconvenience during rains.

“Despite multiple pleas to the authorities, no action has been taken to fix the road,” said Rashid Ahmad, a shopkeeper from Khanyar.

He said that as winter has set, there is a heightened urgency for road repairs. "The authorities should have prioritised fixing the roads before embarking on smart city initiatives. It's challenging to
perceive this city as 'smart' when the roads are in such a dire condition,” said another shopkeeper.

In response to concerns about the deteriorating road conditions in Srinagar, Chief Engineer of the R&B department, Sajad Ahmad told Greater Kashmir that the roads under their jurisdiction remain in satisfactory condition.

He clarified that the roads with a 5.5 mm width fall under the purview of the SMC. “Many of the roads, particularly in Downtown, are managed by the Smart City and SMC departments. The ongoing construction of
flyovers at Nowgam and Bemina, are also nearing completion,” he said.

Chief Engineer of Smart City Limited, Iftikhar Kakroo while talking to Greater Kashmir said that not all roads in the city fall under the Smart City initiative.

“Some are under the management of the SMC and R&B department. The roads designated under the Smart City project will undergo repairs soon,” he said.