KL Report
SRINAGAR
Irked by the dilapidated condition of road, the inhabitants of Qamerwari and Parimpora Monday threatened to stage protest demonstrations in front of Civil Secretariat if authorities fail to macadamize the road which connects north Kashmir to Srinagar city.
“We are tired of pleading before authorities for macadamization of the road. But no action has been initiated till now. The bad road conditions have been causing mishap,” local residents told KNS.
They accused the government of adopting ‘criminal silence’ towards the problem growing in the area due to bad condition of road. “Government started the work on road widening from Qamarwari to Parimpora in 1999. It is going on snail’s pace and has caused annoyance to local inhabitants and commuters. The road, which connects Baramullah, Bandipora and Kupwara districts to SKIMS, Hazratbal Shrine, Kashmir University and heart of Srinagar city is in shambles for the past around a decade while the government has failed to act,” they complained.
Shabir Ahmad a resident said: “Every year we are being promised that the road will be macadamized but nothing concrete has been done till now. We are the victims of government apathy. For last few years the pressure of traffic has increased manifolds on this route but the road condition remains pathetic.
Citing ‘political vendetta’ as the main reason for discrimination, the residents accused the concerned authorities of deliberately leaving them in lurch. “Earlier it was assured by Deputy Commissioner Srinagar Farooq Ahmah Shah that the road will be repaired, however, till date nothing was done,” he said.
The shopkeepers of the area said the bad roads have even affected their business. “Our business has been badly affected due to dilapidated roads as most of our prospective customers avoid the road,” they said.
The people living alongside the road from Qamerwari Chowk to New Parimpora bypass threatened to stage a protest in front of Civil Secretariat if authorities fail to macdamize the road.
Divisional commissioner Kashmir Shailender Kumar told KNS that they have taken up the issue with Border Road Organization. “But the hurdle which comes in the way is the presence of two petrol pumps as well as the shops. Authorities are on job to sort out the issue and complete the work on project shortly,” he assured.
