Ishtiyaq Ahmad
Srinagar, May 14: The Roads and Building department is all out for a strong criticism for not coming up to the peoples’ expectations of repairing the roads damaged due to the winter rain and snow this year and giving preference to just a road stretch used by the VIPs—Rajbhawan to Civil Secretariat.
Reliable sources told Kashmir Indepth that despite tall claims made by the R&B officials especially its chief engineer in April this year that the all the roads that have developed cracks, or potholes will be repaired on fast track basis before the annual Darbar Move shifts to Srinagar from Jammu. However all claims proved false and fake as witnesses reveal that special focus has been given to the road stretch from Rajbhawan, where Governor Satya Pal Malik lives, up to Civil Secretariat, the seat of governance in Jammu and Kashmir.
“The stretch from Rabhawan to Secretariat wears a pristine look and there are visible signs of the hard work put out by the R&B department to ensure smooth flow of Governor and his advisors’ cavalcades to and fro,” eye-witnesses told Kashmir Indepth.
Even on May 6, on the eve of opening of bi-annual darbar move in Srinagar, Governor Malik while addressing the media men said that he was aware of the dilapidated roads in Srinagar and has directed the concerned to ensure repair within a shortest possible time. However, a week on, since the Governor made the announcement, there seems to be no progress on the ground as commuters continue to suffer on the Srinagar roads that have developed cracks and potholes and are in shambles.
According to locals, the road stretch from Qamarwari to Bemina to Batamaloo has major potholes and no repair work has been taken on the road so far by the R&B. Similarly, complaints continue to pour in from the residents of Pantha Chowk, who said that the old Srinagar-Jammu highway, in a sorry state of affairs as no repair work has been started by the authorities so far with the result the frequent travelers on the road from Pampore to Pantha Chowk to and fro face immense problems while as many travelers alleged that their vehicles got damaged due to the bad condition of road from Pampore to Panthachowk.
“Ever since the new express highway from Lasjan to Galander was thrown open, the old high-way has been throw to the winds as neither national highway’s authority nor the R&B takes the responsibility of its repair,” said Abid Rashid, who travels regularly on road twice a day,” he said.
Another resident from Rajbagh area also alleged that the government had failed to repair the roads damaged due to snow and rain in winter months this year. “The roads in Srinagar have become so bumpy that one can feel pain in bones as vehicles looses balance,” he said.
In April this year,the R&B chief engineer had told Kashmir Indepth that within 15 days, all the damaged roads will be repaired, but all his claims proved futile and a mere eye-wash.
