Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, July 18: The shopkeepers and transporters of the old town in north Kashmir’s Baramulla staged a protest today, seeking immediate macadamization of the road from Azad Gunj to Drangbal.
The protestors said that with the authorities failing to address their issues, they were left with no option but to come out on the road to seek the immediate resolution of their concerns, especially the macadamization of the road, which has been due for the last several years.
“This road was macadamized under PMGSY in 2019-20; as of now, if you see, the road is in a dilapidated condition; we can say that it is not fit for use, resulting in people facing difficulties,” one of the protestors, Abdul Hameed Gojri, said.
He noted that despite being aware of the condition of the 4-kilometre road, the authorities have turned a blind eye and have not even started the necessary patching, which could have provided some relief to commuters.
“The district administration had to release some funds for it, but they have not done that so far. There are potholes, and with the bad condition of the road, there is dust, which is causing health issues for the people.”
The protesters also raised the issue of the absence of proper lighting on the SRTC bridge, stating that commuting becomes even more difficult during the night hours.
“We have come out on the road because no one is listening to our issues; apart from other issues, we are also lacking proper sanitation even as the Municipal Committee boasts about their work.”
The residents also highlighted the issue of heavy vehicles such as trucks plying on the road throughout the day. They demanded a ban on the daytime movement of these vehicles from 7 in the morning till 7 in the evening.
Another protestor, Manzoor Ahmad, said that the transporters operating in the area as well as the shopkeepers are the worst sufferers of the dilapidated condition of the road.
“It is affecting our businesses, with the authorities failing to address the issue which has been lying unaddressed for the last several years,” he said.
Meanwhile, as the protest was ongoing, the ADC Baramulla as well as the officials from the PMGSY reached out to the protesting shopkeepers and transporters, assuring them that their issues would be resolved.
“We are thankful to them that they have now reached out to us; they have given us assurances, and we are hopeful that the issue we are facing will be resolved,” locals said.
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