Handwara-Vilgam road lies in dilapidated condition, commuters suffer

Kupwara, Dec 2: The dilapidated road condition from Handwara to Vilgam of north Kashmir’s Kupwara district is giving a tough time to commuters.

Residents complained that the road which connects dozens of villages was in shambles. “The road is dotted with potholes on multiple spots, exposing the tall claims of authorities into improving its connectivity,” they said.

“Though considered to be a main connecting road to areas from Handwara to Vilgam, the road however has been left unattended by the Roads and Buildings department, giving tough time to commuters,” the locals told Greater Kashmir.

“The pathetic condition of the road has become a severe issue for the people of Ramhall belt but authorities are watching miseries of people as mute spectators and doing nothing with regard to addressing the issue,” Nadeem Ahmad Khan a social activist from Lilam Vilgam told Greater Kashmir.

“Commuting on this road has become time consuming. Earlier it would take us 25 minutes to reach Handwara from Vilgam but now the time has doubled. The students, employees and even businessmen lose precious time while commuting on this road. At the time of any medical emergency, people prefer to shift patients to SDH Kupwara keeping in view the pathetic condition of Handwara-Vilgam road,” he added.

Residents said that they have brought this issue many times into the notice of the concerned department but after several years nothing concrete has materialised.

Block Development Council Chairman (BDC) Vilgam Mohammad Yaseen said that he fails to understand why this important road has been left unattended by the concerned department. He said that the people of over hundred villages were suffering due to the pathetic condition of this road. He urged district administration to at least fill the potholes of the road till the macadamization is carried out.