Suhail Bhat
Srinagar, June 29: Failure of authorities to undertake repair work on Lasjan- Kadlabal link road is taking a heavy toll on thousands of commuters who use this road to escape traffic jam on Srinagar- Jammu Highway at Pantha Chowk bypass in the outskirts of Srinagar.
The commuters said the 6 kilometer stretch road is strewn with potholes and deep ditches, which are as deep as 2-3 feet and could prove fatal anytime. “It does not look like a road. The ditches are so deep that it can break the vehicle anytime. It is unsafe for travel but people are risking their lives and the Government is in deep slumber,” Aqib Ahmad, a student, said.
The commuters said in the peak hours traffic jam at Pantha Chowk Bypass force many to take the link road and reach to the southern parts of Kashmir. “With the increase in the number of vehicles the road has become an important diversion to avoid the traffic jam and to save time and energy. However, authorities are turning a blind eye towards the problems people face on the road. The worst suffers are students and patients,” they added.
The residents of around dozen villages including Samerboog, Shaloona, Zoonipora and Lasjan lamented that road has not been repaired for several years which has made it nearly unsafe to travel. “I haven’t seen any repair work on the road for past five- six years. Lack of repair work has further deteriorated it. Officials apathy is responsible for this mess,” Ishaq Ahmad, a local from Lasjan, said.
He said the authorities should widen the road to ensure smooth flow of traffic as the road has lots of land available on its sides. “The road is narrow and at some places only one vehicle can pass. There is enough land available on both the side of the road to make it a four-way,” he said.
Chief Engineer Roads and Buildings (R&B) Abdul Hamid Sheikh when contacted admitted that the road is in a bad state and said that the process for the construction work has already been initiated. “We have already initiated the process and contractors have been asked to submit the DPRs. Once the process is completed the work on the road will be taken up and until then the temporary repairs will be carried,” he said.
The Chief Engineer said the heavily loaded trucks that ply on the road are responsible for the bad condition of the road. “The loaded trucks which ply on the roads had broken the tarmac and created deep ruts which are causing problems to the commuters. Considering all the challenges the road faces, we will put the project under an appropriate header so that a solid road is made,” he said.
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