SRINAGAR: Residents and civil society members from Pampore have urged the Jammu and Kashmir Government to immediately open the under-construction Ring Road stretch between Kadlabal Pampore and Khanda, citing worsening traffic congestion caused by ongoing works at Lajun Bridge and Badshahi Bagh Bridge.
In a public appeal issued by RDF Pampore, the signatories called upon Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary, MLA Pampore Justice (Retd.) Hasnain Masoodi and the Deputy Commissioner Pulwama to allow temporary movement on the completed stretch to ease traffic pressure in the area.
The group claimed that the Ring Road section is fully constructed and ready for use, while traffic bottlenecks on the existing route have led to prolonged delays for commuters. They said the situation has become more pressing with the annual Amarnath Yatra approaching and Muharram observances currently underway.
According to the appeal, tourists arriving in Kashmir through Vande Bharat train services and travelling from Srinagar’s Nowgam Railway Station to destinations such as Pahalgam, Gulmarg and Sonamarg often encounter severe traffic jams on the affected route.
The signatories argued that the congestion creates inconvenience for tourists and local residents alike, including students, patients and daily commuters, and could adversely affect the region’s tourism image.
They urged the administration to take immediate measures to open the Pampore–Khanda stretch of the Ring Road on a temporary basis to improve traffic flow and provide relief to the public.
