Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Feb 2: Despite being located barely five kilometres from Ganderbal town, Gujjar Basti in Dedrambagh area of the district continues to remain without road connectivity, forcing nearly 150 households to endure daily hardship and isolation.
Residents told ‘Excelsior’ that the absence of a proper road has turned even routine activities into exhausting struggles.
Children, they said, are often carried on shoulders to reach school, while the sick and elderly have to be physically transported during medical emergencies as vehicles cannot access the area.
Imtiyaz Iqbal, a local resident, said the locality lacks even the most basic facilities, despite falling under the Municipal Council (MC) Ganderbal.
“There are areas that have every facility, but our area is deprived of even basic road connectivity. Whenever it rains or snows, the situation becomes extremely difficult. If someone falls ill, we have to carry them on our shoulders because vehicles cannot reach here,” he said.
He added that although the area falls under MC Ward No. 3, it has seen little development.
“During the 2024 elections, leaders visited us and assured that our issues would be addressed. But after that, we have not seen the Chief Minister or any other political leader. They come only for votes, and today we are left to fend for ourselves,” he said.
Residents demanded that political leaders, including the Chief Minister, visit the area to witness their plight firsthand.
“The Chief Minister visits areas where basic facilities are already in place. He should also visit this area sometimes,” they said.
Haseena Bano, another resident, highlighted the daily struggles faced by women.
“For daily commuting, we have to climb steep paths, and only after great hardship do we reach the main road. Even collecting ration becomes a challenge,” she said.
“There are areas more remote than ours that have proper road connectivity, but we have none,” she added.
She also demanded a proper drainage system, noting that despite falling under town limits, the area has been neglected.
“No one comes here to understand our issues or ensure they are resolved. We want a proper road and a proper drainage system,” she said.
Responding to the concerns, Executive Engineer, Roads and Buildings (R&B) Department, Ganderbal, Arif Iqbal, said a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the road has already been prepared and submitted for sanction.
“We have framed a DPR and sent it for approval, and we expect it to be sanctioned soon,” he said.
In the meantime, he said the department would explore immediate measures to facilitate people’s movement “within the shortest possible time, under my competence.”
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