Srinagar, Sep 22: In 2010, the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) started a drainage project on the road between Zarabkhana, Saraf Kadal and Gadyar, Zaina Kadal, a key connectivity to the City’s heritage market, the Maharaja Gunj, by laying a deep drain. Though the drain work has been completed, nine months on, the road is craving for macadamization.
 The Shahr-e-Khaas residents and the traders’ community there are up in arms against the government for leaving the road in shambles.
THE WORK
 The estimated Rs 24 lakh drainage work on the Saraf Kadal, Zarabkhana road was started in 2010 and completed earlier this year. But since then no initiative was taken to get the road repaired through macadamization.
THE INCONVENIENCE
 The uneven road is in such a bad condition that people find it inconvenient for travel. “On routine days billows of dust rise form the dusty bumpy track and we have to keep our faces covered,” said some residents.
 Similar were the views of the shopkeepers in the area who said the commodities they keep in showcase get dusty within a day.
 “Moreover due to the bad road conditions customers avoid coming to our shops,” said a delegation of shopkeepers of Saraf Kadal area. They also complained of suffering from chest ailments due to the prevalent dusty conditions.
 “We many a time approached the authorities but no heed was paid to our complaints,” the locals said.
THREATEN AGITATION
 Irked residents and the shopkeepers have threatened to dig up the road making it unfit for traffic should the administration fail in its speedy blacktopping.
 “If the administration continues to ignore our problems, we’ll dig up the road and leave it unfit for traffic," they said.
CAUSE OF MISHAPS
 The residents said the bad road conditions have made it accident prone. “Accidents have become a routine on this track. Almost everyday someone gets injured when either his bike slips or a vehicle rams into the manholes,” they said.
Officials speak
 When contacted the concerned authorities said they deliberately delayed macadamization to let the road surface get settled.
 “After the drainage work was completed, we kept the road under check to see if any depression happens anywhere and that is why we didn’t macadamize it till now,” Executive Engineer, Left River Circular Road, Amin- ud Din  told Greater Kashmir.
 When asked how much time it takes to check such post-drainage issues, the official said five to six months.
 The official however assured that the macadamization would be started soon “provided the temperature remains favourable for that”.

Lastupdate on : Thu, 22 Sep 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 22 Sep 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Fri, 23 Sep 2011 00:00:00 IST