By Ovais Gull
Srinagar: Walking through Samandar Bagh area of Srinagar in evening is always risky for a pedestrian as the authorities have utterly failed to install street lights in the area.
The area connects Old City residents with commercial Hub Lal Chowk. Samandar Bagh is not only example of the area that sans street lights but many of the residents in Srinagar here have also complained of either defunct or no street lights in their areas.
Despite tall claims of Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) to make Srinagar “city of lights”, the various areas in Srinagar especially Samandar Bagh are still without street lights reeling under darkness.
The locals said that lights were installed at various places but most of them are lying defunct. A pedestrian while talking to The INS said that it becomes very risky for them to walk through these areas in the evening fearing presence of stray dogs and drug addicts in the area.
These areas without proper lighting would serve as excellent preying grounds for the miscreants indulging in anti-social activities, residents of Srinagar areas fear.
Ali Muhammad, a local resident said that they don’t allow their children to venture out of homes in evening due to fear of being attacked by stray dogs, adding that authorities concerned should install ore repair the street lights so that the residents here could heave a sigh of relief.
Despite repeated attempts, Mayor SMC Junaid Azim Matoo, Deputy Mayor SMC Sheikh Imran didn’t receive the call while as Commissioner SMC, Tariq Ali could not be contacted for the comments.
