By Tasaduq Hussain
Srinagar: Commuters are suffering as condition of roads in northern Kashmir’s Kupwara district has turned ‘despicable’ and authorities are passing the blame on ‘harsh winters’.
“It takes over 3 hours to reach kupwara from Srinagar these days. The stretch from Sopore to Kupwara is in total mess and has deep potholes,” Muneer Ahmad, a sumo driver told INS.
Situation has worsened to an extend that residents of Karalpora on Wednesday had to come on roads demanding better roads.
“Roads and Building department and Beacon both have failed to take care of roads. As if we demand charity. They are not doing their jobs,” residents and business establishment in the area accused.
The bad roads conditions is not specific to one are but across district people have been complaining of district authorities of being in deep slumber over the pressing issue.
In Lolab, Vawoora to Kupwara, is in despicable conditions. “Even though work on this road has been going on for months. No checks and balances are being imposed there,” they said.
Sources inside R&B department told INS according to the norms a contractor has to be answerable for a time period of three years, who after finishing macadumization will have to repair the roads if damage surfaces within three years.
Sources confided that roads are damaged as ‘quality has been grossly compromised and work deliberately done during winter season.’
Commuters complained about the worsened conditions in areas including Kupwara-Kalarooch, Chokibal-Tangdar Road, Lolab, Kupwara-Halmatpora, Kupwara-Nagri, Muqaam Shawali , Kupwara-Trehgam, Kupwara-Srinagar Highway, Kulangam- Handwara and other link roads in main town Kupwara.
Members of traders fraternity told INS that roads in the sub distirct Handwara are no better then Kupwara.
“In Handwara township the reisndets have complained about the roads like, Magam-Handwara, Shailal-Handwara, Hangah-Mawer, Babagund-Handwara and Handwara-Byepass are lying in shameless condition with administration turning deaf ears to the sufferings of daily commuters,” they said, adding that traders have been hit badly by bad roads.
Exon, Roads and Buildings divisions Kupwara, Gurdev Singh accepted that roads in certain areas are in bad shape but tenders for the work will be issued soon.
“There are roads which aren’t in good conditions about which, commuters have complained. Tenders will be issued for the work soon,” Singh said.
Singh put the blame on recent winter and said that last phase of season was harsh that damaged the roads.
“Work on the roads will be commenced soon and commuters will have a sigh of relief,” Singh said.
ADVERTISEMENT
