Potholed highway delays travel between Srinagar, Anantnag
Road inundated, muddy in parts
With work on the expansion of Srinagar-Jammu National Highway going on at snail’s pace the existing road is dotted with pot holes and ditches which makes travel a nightmare for the commuters.
The incessant rain water has inundated the road and rendered it muddy at several places causing tremendous inconvenience to the commuters and people residing along the Highway.
The RAMKY Constructions, a Hyderabad-based company executing the widening project of the Highway 1-A was supposed to complete the work on 70 Kilometer Srinagar-Banihal stretch by June, 2014. However, official sources said that with only fifteen days left, the deadline is set to be missed.
The executing agency was also entrusted with the maintenance of the existing road as well. However, the condition of the road is pathetic.
“As a part of the contract they were supposed to keep the already existing Highway in proper working condition,” said an official. “However they have failed to take proper care of the road”.
The places along the Highway that have been completely neglected and are in pathetic condition include Lethpora, Barsoo, Pampore,Charsoo, Awantipora, Bijbehra, Khanabal, Batengoo, Wanpoh and Qazigund.
“The irony is that the road is dotted with pot holes and huge ditches even outside the RAMKY headquarters at Lethpora and they are least bothered about the condition of the important road, which is the only surface link between Kashmir and rest of the world,” said Nargis Ayub, a daily commuter.
Greater Kashmir talked to a number of commuters who narrated the ordeal of travelling on the highway these days. “It is becoming a nightmare to travel on the Highway these days. The road is muddy and inundated in water at many places making it difficult for the vehicles to ply,” said a daily passenger Shahid Hussain.
He said that the road at Lethpora and Barsoo looks like a paddy field. The pathetic condition of the road gives tough time to the patients who are referred to Srinagar hospitals from South Kashmir areas.
The people residing along the Highway said the road is water logged causing inconvenience to the pedestrians. “ Even the expanded stretch of road black topped last year is damaged now,” said a resident of Lethpora.