Uri residents seek opening of Garkote road for heavy vehicles

Uri, May 5: Residents of Garkote village in border town Uri of north Kashmir’s Baramulla dis strict have urged the authorities to open the Lagama-Garkote road to facilitate heavy vehicular movement (HVM).

The road has been closed to heavy vehicles for the last one week due to a portion of it being washed away by the landslides triggered by heavy rains in the Lagama area.

Locals informed Greater Kashmir that they are facing various hardships due to the closure of the road for heavy vehicles.

“Neither buses nor mini buses are operating on this route. The portion which caved in needs a major repair. The concerned department needs to build a strong protection wall to pre vent further erosion,” said Reyaz Ahmad, a local of the village.

He said that with buses unable to travel into the village, students' education has severely been affected.

“Many students are unable to go to their schools, those who are going have to trek the mountainous routes to reach the main town Uri. Our life has become miserable,” he said.

Bashir Ahmad, another resident, highlighted their inability to ferry the patients to the hospital. “Everybody can’t afford to take a cab. We rely on buses to move in and around Uri but the services have been affected for a week now. We demand its immediate restoration,” he said.

“Essential service vehicles such as those carrying gas, vegetables and rations are also unable to reach the village with a population of 70,000,” he added.

Locals said that the PMGSY Department had acquired their lands some years ago for the construction of Garkote road. “We have not received any compensation till date. Moreover, the department has not built any protection walls and drainage which is posing a threat to our houses,” they complained.

However, Executive Engineer PMGSY Division Uri, Zahoor Ahmad Budoo told Greater Kashmir that they have taken up this matter with the SDM.

“We have written to him requesting for the removal of a chinar tree near the land slide site or if permission is given, we can also construct a separate road on the back side of this tree which will surely ease the hardships of the people,” he said adding, “We are waiting for SDM’s response.”

Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Uri, Javid Ahmad Rather, didn’t respond to the multiple calls for his version.