By: Amjad Hussain
Srinagar: Despite elapsing almost five months, authorities have miserably failed to repair the portion of Boulevard Road along the world famous Dal Lake in Srinagar, affecting traffic movement in the area badly.
Notably, a portion of Boulevard Road caved in on February 24 this year but five months have already elapsed, the construction work on a portion of vital road awaits completion.
Delay in repair work has badly affected the traffic movement in the area with locals blaming the Roads and Buildings (R&B) department for the mess.
Locals living in Dalgate and adjacent localities told ‘Precious Kashmir’ that the area faces frequent traffic jams for hours together as the construction work on the collapsed portion of road goes on at snail’s pace.
“I don’t know when this multi-crore mega-project is completed; I have reason to mock the executing agency as the small portion of road has been awaiting completion for the last five months,” Showkat Ahmad a local shopkeeper said.
He said while one-side of the two-way road near Badyari Chowk undergoes construction since February, both light and heavy vehicles traverse on opposite side, thereby causing heavy traffic jams in the area.
When contacted, Chief Engineer R&B, Showkat Jeelani refused to comment on the issue, saying he is busy in an urgent meeting at the Civil Secretariat.
They appealed to the Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha to exert a pull on the executing agency so that the problems people face on account of the delay by the R & B department, heave a sigh of relief.
“Everyone including commuters, motorists, pedestrians and shopkeepers has been badly affected due to the inordinate delay in completing the portion of road. Vehicles to and fro from Lal Chowk to Harwan traverse on other side of the road, causing heavy traffic jams,” Abdul Hameed, a local resident said.
He said the nonstop traffic movement on one-way stretch would certainly lead to its collapse as the same might not have remained stout after caving in on the opposite side.