Dilapidated roads hamper vehicular movement, pose risk of accidents in Srinagar

The deteriorating condition of major roads across the summer capital is emerging as a growing concern for commuters who decry failure of authorities to undertake repairs of the damaged roads. Despite improvement in weather, authorities are yet to start repairs of roads or filling up of potholes. Among the worst-affected road stretches is the Noor Bagh-Qamarwari road, which continues to remain without proper macadamisation after drainage works. Commuters said the busy road, linking several Downtown localities with the city centre, has turned into a bumpy stretch riddled with potholes and damaged patches, slowing traffic and posing risks to motorists. Another severely affected stretch is the Gojwara-Hawal road where drainage works have left the surface badly damaged. Residents said the road becomes muddy after every spell of rain, while dry weather fills the area with dust, causing inconvenience to commuters, pedestrians and shopkeepers alike. “The road has become difficult to use due to big potholes. During rains it turns muddy and slippery, while on sunny days passing vehicles raise thick clouds of dust. We have been waiting for proper restoration for months but authorities are sitting on the issue,” said Bashir Ahmad, a resident of Hawal. Ali Jan Road is another stretch that has drawn criticism from commuters. Despite the completion of drainage works, commuters said, the road remains in battered condition, with uneven manholes, craters and an uneven surface making travel slow and uncomfortable. Commuters said the condition of the road is particularly worrying because it serves as an important access route to one of the Valley’s major hospitals, where ambulances and vehicles carrying patients frequently encounter delays. “This is not just another road. Ambulances and vehicles carrying critically ill patients use this route every day. Because of the damaged surface, ambulances are often forced to slow down while private vehicles carrying patients struggle to negotiate the craters. Every minute matters during a medical emergency,” said Mohammad Rafiq, a commuter. Residents said repeated spells of rain witnessed across Srinagar over the past month have further deteriorated the already damaged road network. Water accumulation in potholes has widened damaged portions, while the worn-out surface has become increasingly hazardous for motorists, particularly two-wheeler riders. Apart from the major roads, several link roads in downtown localities, including Malik Sahib Gojwara and adjoining areas, continue to remain in poor condition, with potholes, damaged surfaces and uneven manholes causing inconvenience to residents for years. “Our locality has been waiting for proper road repairs for a long time. The condition has only worsened after the rains. People, especially the elderly and schoolchildren, face immense difficulty while using these roads,” said a resident of Malik Sahib Gojwara. Residents said the poor condition of roads is also affecting commercial activity, as dust generated from damaged stretches settles on shops and merchandise during dry weather, while muddy conditions during rains discourage customers from visiting markets. Even vital roads including Maulana Azad Road, Nowpora, Bada Demb, Khanyar, Jehangir Chowk-Ram Bagh flyover are dotted with potholes. Commuters urged the Roads and Buildings Department to immediately undertake blacktopping and restoration of the damaged stretches before the condition deteriorates further. Greater Kashmir has carried a series of reports over the past several months highlighting the deteriorating condition of roads and civic infrastructure across different parts of Srinagar. Recently, an R&B official said that “Restoration and blacktopping of damaged road stretches would be taken up shortly,” However, commuters said no visible work has been initiated so far, prolonging public inconvenience and raising concerns over the pace of infrastructure restoration.

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