Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Dec 2: Much to the annoyance of the residents, the approach roads of Gulabad area of Sopore in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district are in dilapidated condition giving tough time to the commuters and residents.
The residents said they are experiencing great hardships owing to the dilapidated condition of these roads which connect them with main town and rest of the Valley. They accused the administration of failing to macadamize these vital roads.
“The roads at both upper-Gulabad and Gulabad are lying in shambles for a long time. The roads have craters and during rains, the driving becomes difficult and risky,” Ghulam Mohammad, a local said, adding that patients and students are the worst hit and they often reach their destinations late.
Locals said the Government’s tall claims of providing proper road connectivity to rural areas have proved a cruel joke as the main roads are in a bad shape and have developed large potholes. “One gets bone-shattering experience while traveling on these roads. The roads are filled with deep ditches and potholes that are as deep as 2-3 feet,” another local, Manzoor Ahmad said.
He added the dust that comes out of the road surface causes throat infections during the dry season, while the puddle water makes the road non-commutable during rains. “Whenever it rains, many vehicles get trapped in the water. The roads also become slippery during winter, thereby inviting accidents,” a local said.
Locals said that concerned authorities have turned a blind eye towards this issue and appealed the higher officials to look into the matter. “We have approached authorities several times but nothing positive happened on the ground,” locals said, adding that they have pinned their hopes on the new administration.
Executive Engineer Road and Buildings (R&B) Sopore, Muzaffar Ahmad, told Excelsior: “All the formalities have been completed for the macadamization. The tenders have also been invited and after opening the tenders on the due date, we will allocate and execute the work.”
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