A four-kilometer stretch of the arterial Srinagar-Shopian road is in an appalling condition, causing tremendous inconvenience to a large number of commuters every day.
The battered stretch from Bundzoo to Hall in southernPulwama district is dotted with potholes ignored by authorities.
Many commuters told Greater Kashmir that it was waydifficult to travel on the bumpy stretch. “It takes around 15 minutes to cover these few kilometers,”said Javed Ahmad, a government employee who travels daily on the road.
A local resident of the area blamed the poor workmanship andofficial indifference for the poor condition of the road.
“Authorities hardly care about the roads. They do somenominal patchwork in the name of repairs,” he said.
The Srinagr-Shopian road has emerged as an important surfacelink over the years as it connects Kashmir with Poonch in Jammu division viathe traditional Mughal road which serves as an alternate route toSrinagar-Jammu national highway.
“Whenever Srinagar-Jammu national highway is shut dueto inclement weather conditions particularly during the summers, the trafficplies on this road,” said Mohammd Ashraf, a resident of Shopian.
Many residents say that the rush of traffic on the roadenhances significantly during the harvesting season and its pathetic conditionresults in frequent and long traffic snarls.
“The fruit laden trucks move slowly on the road which leadsto traffic jams. The road is also prone to accidents,” said a Shopianresident among a complaining group.
A motorcyclist said that bikers bore the brunt of the poor roadcondition as the potholes often threw them off balance.
“You may suffer body ache for quite some time if youride down this stretch,” the biker said.
Executive Engineer R&B, Pulwama told Greater Kashmirthat the surface of the stretch had worn off.
“We will soon issue tender for repairment of the stretch,”he added.