Old town Baramulla residents protest against poor road condition

Baramulla, April 08: The residents of Old Town Baramulla staged a protest on Monday against the poor condition of roads in the area, particularly the stretch along the Jhelum River from Azad Gunj to Khadniyar.

The protesters gathered near Kakar Hamam, raising slogans against the administration for their failure to address the longstanding issue.

The protesters, including local shopkeepers and residents, expressed their anguish over the road's deteriorated condition, which has remained neglected for several years.

The road is riddled with potholes, causing immense inconvenience to commuters and posing serious risks to public safety.

"The entire Old Town area has been ignored by the administration for years," said Muhammad Amin, a local resident.

"Despite our repeated protests, no significant action has been taken. Today, we closed our shops in protest because the business community is suffering the most. The young and the elderly are fed up with these worsening conditions."

Amin added that the protest was a last resort after their demands were continuously overlooked.

The road blockade caused traffic disruption in the area as the locals refused to relent until authorities gave them a concrete assurance.

In response, senior police officials rushed to the spot and tried to pacify the agitated crowd, urging them to end the protest.

The residents have warned of intensifying the agitation if their demands are not met soon.