Key North Kashmir roads in dilapidated condition

Call it official apathy or lackadaisical approach of government, several important roads links in the North Kashmir’s Baramulla district are in dilapidated condition for a number of years which have become cause of plight for local residents.

One such example of bumpy road is Hanjiwara road link- a 6 km stretch. As per locals this road was macadamized a decade ago, since then it has never been repaired leave aside macadamisation.

The road link is important and connects the area to Srinagar and provides passage to reach Baramulla, Gulmarg and Tangmarg tourist destinations.

“Despite being an important road link, we fail to understand why officials have never bothered to repair it. Due to non-maintenance of the road large potholes have developed which cause immense inconvenience to commuters,” said Muhammad Yaqub, a local resident.

Not only local residents, but transporters are up in arms against the administration for failing to repair the road stretch.

“We pay taxes, but fail to understand why government fails to provide quality roads,” said Irshad Ahmad, a Sumo taxi driver who plies commercial vehicle on Hanjiwara road.

“Many drivers simply refuse to take passengers on this road as it damages their vehicles and reduces the tyre life,” he said adding that this road is used to ferry tourists to famed tourism destinations of Gulmarg and Tangmarg.

Even the shopkeepers in the area are complaining of slump in business due to dilapidated condition of the road.

“We have developed chest complications due to dust emanating from the road and second our business has suffered badly because of the poor condition of the road,” said a local shopkeeper.

Roads of Chanderhama village in Baramulla district are also in shambles, courtesy neglect by successive governments.

“The road has never been macadamized which causes lot of problems to the local residents and even passenger vehicles don’t ply on this road,” said local residents.

Talking to us, Minister for Roads and Buildings, Syed Altaf Bukhari said that the issue of dilapidated road of Hanjiwara has come to his notice.

“I am aware about the bad condition of the road link and I assure that it would be repaired immediately,” he said adding that he would take up the issue with the concerned officials and direct them to initiate action as soon as possible.