Residents of Old Town Baramulla take out protest march over deteriorating road conditions

Baramulla, July 18: The residents of Old Town Baramulla staged a massive protest today against the deteriorating condition of the main road from Azad Gunj to Khadniyar.

The protest, which included a brief shutdown, was sparked by the administration's failure to address the poor road conditions despite repeated appeals over the past three years.

The aggrieved protesters blocked the road and raised slogans against the local administration for neglecting the vital 6 km road stretch that is heavily used by residents and commercial vehicles, including trucks.

The angry protesters said that the road was macadamised in 2018 by the PMGSY Baramulla department, however, it quickly deteriorated due to the use of "inferior" materials, leading to significant potholes and cracks.

Abdul Hameed, a representative of the local traders, expressed frustration over the lack of response from the authorities. "The road is crucial for daily commuters and the business community. The continuous heavy traffic on this damaged road only worsens the situation," he said.

A local resident, while expressing anger over the administration's least concern for the area, said the road stretch from Azad Gunj to Khadniyar, is extremely important as almost all the old town residents use this road on a daily basis.

He said the worsening road condition of this road stretch shows authorities "step motherly" treatment to this area.

“The entire history of the Baramulla town revolves around the old town,” said Farooq Ahmad. "Instead of protecting the rich heritage of the town and providing a better life to its residents, the authorities are converting this historical area into a slum like town,” added Farooq.

The residents also highlighted other ongoing issues, including poor sanitation and a lack of developmental programmes. They said that proposals to decongest the area have been pending with the district administration for two decades. Additionally, the non-functioning streetlights have left the town in darkness after dusk, further exacerbating the residents' grievances.

In response to the protest, the Additional Deputy Commissioner of Baramulla, accompanied by police officials, visited the area and assured the residents that their concerns would be addressed promptly