SHAKEELA ANDRABI
SRINAGAR: Six months back, busy road of Srinagar city in Dalgate collapsed on February 24, 2021 after which a portion of road was closed, making the already congested road over-congested. R&B Department excavated the road for necessary repairs, but people from different walks of life are suffering due to inordinate delay in completion of work. Chief Engineer R&B, Shouket Jeelani said that a line of sewerage is passing beneath the road, due to which it has become difficult to complete the work. Thereafter R&B consulted UEED, that maintains sewerage network, and a joint plan was formulated to sort-out the issue. After series of meetings and site visit, a plan was prepared. “Sewerage line beneath the road cannot be kept as it was. Majority work has been finished by now but the technical reasons are causing delay,” he added.
Meanwhile due to closure of a portion of road, people are suffering due to traffic mess in the area, as there are huge traffic jams in the area. “It is a busy junction and I believe authorities should act very quickly else it will continue to create problems for every commuter. Due to traffic mess, the public transport vehicles prefer to go via Gupkar and other roads, due to which many people suffer, as the road connects dozens of localities from Dalgate to SKICC and other areas like Nishat, Shalimar and Harwan etc,” said a resident.
LG Manoj Sinha also instructed the department for complete repair of roads but there is no progress on ground level and commuters are suffering miserably. The road-stretches from Eid Gah to SKIMS Soura, Lal Bazar to Mallabagh and near Gousia Hospital Khanyar Srinagar, link roads etc are also in a miserable condition causing inconvenience to commuters, especially transporters. “Nobody from the administration bothers to take steps to repair bumpy roads for smooth flow of traffic,” said another local.
R&B Chief Engineer told STATE TIMES that all roads that have developed cracks, or potholes or yet to be mecdemised, will be repaired on fast-track basis before winter season. However, witnesses revealed that special focus is being given to some particular roads in the city, and no other stretches like link roads in the city are being repaired. The commuters alleged that Roads and Building Department is not meeting peoples’ expectations regarding repair of roads, damaged due to rains and snowfall.