Rains wash away portion of footpath on Boulevard Road, raise safety concerns

Srinagar, Feb 20: A portion of a footpath along Dal Lake near Ghat Number 17 on Boulevard Road in Srinagar has been washed away after a brief spell of rain.

The damage to the pathway has raised concerns over the quality of works carried out in Srinagar as part of the smart city infrastructure development while also posing risks to the pedestrians who are using the route.

In a post on X, NC chief spokesperson and MLA Zadibal, Tanvir Sadiq, flagged the issue and urged Deputy Commissioner Srinagar to intervene in the matter.

“A critical issue has emerged near Ghat No 17, Boulevard road Srinagar, where the path and soil have been washed away. Immediate intervention from the DC Srinagar is needed,” Tanvir said in the post.

As per the eyewitnesses, the pathway was washed away on Thursday, which caused damage to the recent tile work as well. Pedestrians and locals said although there were no injuries, however, the people travelling on the route had a narrow escape due to sudden damage.

“Most of the work that has been done is fresh, and it says a lot about the execution and standard of work. God forbid, this could have led to a major accident for any local or tourist here. The area usually remains abuzz with crowds and the authorities should have ensured quality work. The portion of the footpath completely caved into the Dal Lake,” said a pedestrian.

Few years back, another road at Dalgate had similarly caved in causing immense inconvenience to commuters and also resulting in heavy traffic jams. After today’s damage, the Shikara owners and commuters said that the path should be repaired without any delay so that the pedestrians won’t face any inconvenience.

“It is not only about the inconvenience, the absence of a path will force pedestrians to walk on the roads and put them at risk of accidents,” said Ishfaq Ahmad, a local.