Roads: A Public Asset

Roads are for public. What we see in Kashmir, however, is that roads are used for purposes they are not meant for. We observe roads even people washing cars on the roads in rural areas, resulting in accidents, congestion, and traffic jams. This is not a minor issue, it is a serious concern. A few years ago, when there was less public and private transport, people often used roads for other activities and occupied them freely. While traveling through Baramulla and Kupwara, we often see small and large cars being washed at stream points along the roads. People tend to think that roads comprise their personal property.

A country is developed when there are better roads. Roads play a very important role in the development of any country. They serve as a vital connection between people, places, and resources, facilitate the movement of goods and services, promote trade and commerce, and ensure timely access to education, healthcare, and employment. So, roads are life, and life depends on roads. The blockade of roads is the blockade of life. Therefore, we must take care of roads.

We truly understand the importance of roads when we experience traffic jams or disconnection. Roads are our shared property, and ensuring their safety and proper use is our collective responsibility. Over the past decade, the Kashmir Valley has witnessed significant road infrastructure development, especially under the Bharatmala Pariyojana and the Prime Minister’s Development Package (PMDP). The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has undertaken several key projects, including the expansion and upgradation of National Highway-44 (Jammu–Srinagar). This includes major tunnel projects such as the Chenani–Nashri Tunnel and the Banihal–Qazigund Tunnel, which have drastically reduced travel time and improved all-weather connectivity. Other landmark projects include the Z-Morh Tunnel on the Sonamarg route and the Zojila Tunnel, which will further enhance year-round access.

Looking back with open eyes at the past three decades (1985–2015), road development was limited and slow, hindered by violence and inadequate resource allocation. Most highways remained single-lane and poorly maintained. In contrast, the last ten years (2015–2025) have seen more highway construction, modernization, and tunnelling than the previous 30 years combined. Travel time between Jammu and Srinagar has been cut from 12–72 hours to under 7 hours in many cases, thanks to new tunnel networks and bypass roads.

Blockade of roads has been a recurring issue in Kashmir. Hawkers, road vendors, extension of shopfronts by shopkeepers, shades, and encroachments on footpaths all contribute to road occupation, resulting in traffic jams and inconvenience. There are roads meant specifically for certain types of vehicles, which we must follow. Heavily loaded trucks and tippers often become the reason for early road damage. Additionally, rooftops of houses sometimes become obstructions, contributing to road encroachment.

Under the Roads and Buildings Act, everyone must act responsibly. There are certain measures that need to be taken so that our roads remain in good condition, free from congestion, and maintain a clear path for everyone to reach their destinations on time, ensuring that the purpose of their journey or duty is fulfilled.

There can be certain recommendations for the authorities as well as the common people. We pay taxes for the roads, and they are public property. The present government is transforming the traditional, dilapidated roads, once marked by deep scars into a historical change, and that too within just a few years. The roads being developed now represent a significant transformation in Kashmir and will make our lives easier, more comfortable, and progressive.

For the smooth functioning of these roads, BRO, PMGSY, and R&B should constitute a special committee to regularly monitor the roads, especially at junctions and diversions where people often misuse them for unnecessary activities, leading to road occupation, traffic jams, and congestion. These departments and agencies should also launch awareness campaigns about road development, safety, protection, and the importance of keeping roads clear for smooth traffic flow.

It is necessary to raise awareness and enlighten our citizens for the smooth functioning of these roads. For this, we can start awareness campaigns about traffic rules, the Roads and Buildings Act, and other related laws so that people become informed and apply them in practice. In this regard, schools and colleges can be used as platforms for road awareness programs. The traffic police are already active and can also conduct awareness programs focusing on both the safety and protection of roads.

Within few years, we will have four-lane roads and well-developed links, as seen in the ongoing fast-track road development happening for the first time in Kashmir. At the same time, we need to ensure these roads are kept clear of overloaded tippers carrying sand and construction materials, as well as prevent disruptions caused by locals using public roads for personal purposes, which creates problems for everyone.

Immediately, the government can form special teams from departments like the police and revenue to monitor roads in their respective areas and ensure smooth and obstruction-free travel. Let’s keep our roads clean to lead the path to progress and allow work and emergencies to be addressed on time.

When roads are clear, time is saved. And when roads are blocked, your time and sometimes lives are blocked. Time is precious, and roads are the lifelines that help us reach our destinations, whether it’s a doctor, an ambulance, a student, a teacher, or any citizen trying to connect with others and fulfill daily responsibilities. Roads are not just infrastructure, they connect life, duty, and development.