Roads in dilapidated condition

A number of roads in Srinagar city and other parts of Kashmir are in a dilapidated condition.

No attention has been paid for long to repair these roads and improve their condition. Since the roads are in bad condition, the movement of vehicular traffic and pedestrians becomes difficult.

The residents in a number of areas say that they have several times tried to draw the attention of the concerned officials towards the problem but no step was taken to solve the problem.

According to them, the problems can get further complicated on these dilapidated roads after the major snowfall. The concerned authorities must immediately consider the demand of the residents and do necessary repair work on the roads wherever required. Such repairs do not need much funds or much manpower, or machinery.

Such smaller problems can be solved if there is a will to do so. Otherwise, the local residents and others, travelling on dilapidated roads will continue to suffer.

The repair works should have been done in summer only or in autumn. Since a major snowfall is yet to occur, the officials can take advantage of it and start repair work at the earliest.

The works must be taken up simultaneously in Srinagar city, towns and in rural areas. People say sometimes the mishaps also occur due to the bad condition of these roads. After the recent major road accident in Doda district in which 39 persons were killed, much stress is being laid on strict adherence to the road safety rules. It is a good step.

But having the roads in a good condition is also important to avoid accidents. If the roads continue to be in bad shape the mishaps will also continue to occur. It is also important to make the travel of people comfortable and smooth by keeping the roads in a good condition.

Bad roads also paint a picture of lack of development. When crores of rupees are being spent on constructing new roads what is wrong in making the condition of existing roads better.

A beginning has to be made in this direction before a major snowfall. Such type of works can not be easier later in snow and more freezing temperature. The early such repair works are taken up, the better.