Ganderbal Diary

Vital road stretch in Ganderbal in need of repair

A vital 3-kilometer stretch of road in central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district is in dilapidated condition. Locals said the road stretch leading to Kheer Bhawani temple and Central university of Kashmir is dotted with potholes, causing inconvenience to commuters.

Despite serving as a crucial link to tourist destinations like Manasbal, religious sites such as the Kheerbhawani temple, and the Central University of Kashmir, the road remains in a dilapidated state, hampering connectivity for residents and visitors alike. “The road leads to tourist places of Kheerbhawani and Manasbal and Central University of Kashmir,” said Manzoor Ahmad, a social activist.

A student, who relies on the road for his daily commute to the university, voiced his struggles with navigating the stretch, especially during rainfall. He called upon the government to expedite repairs to alleviate difficulties faced by commuters. “I go to my university on bicycle and often face difficulty while crossing this stretch, particularly during rainfall. I want the administration to repair the road so that people do not face any difficulty,” he said.

Shabir Ahmad, Assistant Executive Engineer of PMGSY Ganderbal, acknowledged the issue of waterlogging along a particular section of the road. “The proposal for constructing a drainage system has been submitted to address this concern. Once approved, the necessary repairs will commence promptly,” he said.

Road leading to Sonamarg in dilapidated condition

The road leading to famous tourist destination Sonamarg in Ganderbal district is in dilapidated condition causing inconvenience to the commuters. Thousands of people travel on this busy road which lies on the Srinagar-Leh highway.

Locals said that the road stretch of 10 kilometres mostly from Kulan village upto Gagengar tourist village is in shabby condition and remains dotted with potholes causing inconvenience to commuters travelling on the road. The travel on this road has become arduous and cumbersome for passengers as the road is dotted with potholes. "Our vehicles suffer extensive damage due to the poor road condition and we have to send them for repairs quite often," the drivers said, adding the concerned officials should do anything substantial about the road repairs. The passengers have also complained of dust pollution on the highway saying it had also resulted in serious health complications in certain persons allergic to dust. "The dust raised from these potholes has also become a pollution source causing further inconvenience to the travelers," they said.

They said that the heavy machinery used in the tunnel construction work which use the road has further deteriorated it .

The vehicle owners carrying tourists to Sonamarg have also expressed disappointment over the road leading to the tourist destination. The drivers said that Beacon authorities or the tunnel authorities should pay attention to the road and start repair and maintenance work for the convenience of the travelers.