Kupwara, Mar 22: The road condition in this north Kashmir district is so bad that residents are coping to live with it and believe to be living in medieval times.
 Most of the roads of the district have potholes and lie in shambles with the vehicular movement at snail’s pace, the residents are up in arms against Roads and Buildings department as well as Beacon authorities.
 The roads include Gonipora-Batpora which is a vital road in Hayhama area that is in dilapidated condition in over a decade.
 The residents said that after  the failure of R&B department in repairing this road stretch, during this period (a decade) it was handed over to 109 RCC Beacon during 2011.  “But the lackadaisical approach of Beacon authorities to upgrade the three kilometre road stretch has evoked sharp criticism from the people who accused it of indifference.
 “It is a back- breaking journey on shabby road to reach Batpora.  The road dotted with potholes give it  medieval look,” said Ghulam Muhammad Wani.
 The road stretch which connects more than 20 villages including Goonipora, Jugtyal, Bungam, Batpora,  Guchipora, Mirwayan, Balhama, Baramdari,  Chart, Trumbnard and Safawali is lying in dilapidated condition.
 “The road track is in bad shape and it takes hours to cross it which otherwise could be covered in 20 minutes from the district head quarter Kupwara,” he said.
 “This stretch is not in motorable condition, we have to spend huge amounts to get our vehicles repaired. we are suffering heavy losses,” said a Sumo driver.
 Another road stretch from Bohipora  to Kunnanposhpora which is under the jurisdiction of R&B authorities is also in worst condition due to large potholes, mud and ditches.
 “Shabby condition of the road with potholes in the middle, and dust is proving main hazards to the life and the property of the residents. Every day one or other vehicle hits these potholes resulting in damage to them, ” said the locals.
 Work on the expansion project of Shatpora-Wayan road which is undertaken by PMGSY  is very slow “The callousness of the authorities can be gauged from the fact  that two years on  an important bridge connecting  Shatpora with   Payerpora besides scores of other villages  is incomplete ” said the residents.
  They said that the patients and expecting mothers have to face difficulty due to the bumpy road condition in this 16 kilometer long stretch.
 The condition of Kupwra –Chowkibal road and Kralpora-Kachama road is no different.
 One of the other important road connecting Ramhal  with Kupwara and villages is also bumpy and dotted with potholes.
  The roads in Rajwar and Lolab is no better than other roads in this district.
  “Due to the pathetic condition of the road, we are not able to make it to our work places in time,” said Zubair Ahmad.
 People also complain that their vehicles have got damaged because of the bumpy roads as a result of which the maintenance cost of their cars has also risen manifold.
 Furthermore, people say that even the internal roads of main towns of Kupwara and Handwara are in dilapidated condition.
 Road leading to Usmanabad colony in Kupwara town is in a mess, due to accumulation of mud and large potholes in the middle of road pose difficulties to pedestrians and locals. Resident’s use the long boots to cross this road patch to reach Kupwara town.
 People in these areas often complain of respiratory disorders during coming season due to the inhalation of dust that keeps on emanating following the movement of vehicles.
 When contacted Officiating Commander 109 RCC Beacon told Greater Kashmir that 'We have recently repaired the road patches from Bumahama to Kupwara and Branwari to Kupwara on public demand but the estimate of Goonipra-Batpora road is awaited which has been send to Delhi for technical sanction last year. On receiving the estimate we will be widening the road for which we have to acquire the land. for this I have written to district administration for joint survey."

Lastupdate on : Thu, 22 Mar 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 22 Mar 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Fri, 23 Mar 2012 00:00:00 IST