Srinagar: Heavy snowfall this year has taken a toll on the roads across Kashmir. Roads in most of the areas have developed big potholes and are in shambles.
An official while talking to Precious Kashmir said, “The administration is aware of the fact that many roads in the Valley have developed cracks and it’s becoming difficult for the people to commute.”
He said, “The repairing of roads will be taken up early this year. We are waiting for the weather to improve. Besides link roads many main roads too have developed pot holes. The administration is aware and proposals have already been formulated to take up the repair work as soon as possible.”
Imtiyaz Khan of Chanapora said, “It’s not for the first time that snow has damaged the roads. It happens every year. It seems the material that’s used to construct these roads is not of a good quality.”
Khan said, “Every year in summer the Road and Building Department carries on the patch work of these roads instead of repairing them fully. The authorities while allotting the work to the contractors should specify the quality of the material that has to be used.”
Khan said, “During the past few years winter has been severe and authorities should ensure that roads are constructed in such a way that they last for at least a few years.”
Another resident Hilal Ahmed said, “Not single link road in Kashmir is without potholes. In many areas approach roads have sunk. The macadamized roads have turned into cesspools, while the lanes where no macdamization was carried out have turned into mud polls.”
He said, “By the time repair work of these lanes and by lanes will be completed the winter will return and all the hard work will go down the drain. The government should come up with a proper strategy to deal with this problem.”
A retired civil engineer said, “Proper planning is required to ensure that roads don’t suffer massive damages during snowfall. Every winter a plan is formulated but as soon as the summer comes we tend to forget that winter will come again.”
He said, “People who are handling the Road and Buildings department at present should go through the proposals which were put forward by their former colleagues. It will help them to improve the road infrastructure across Kashmir. The winter is a part of our culture and it cannot change but we can find ways and means to make life easier for the people.”
Heavy snowfall leaves Kashmir roads in shambles
