J&K administration has decided to resume blacktopping and repairing of roads across Kashmir from next month in view of the damage caused to the roads by heavy snowfall and freezing temperatures.
Officials said that R&B department is conducting an exercise to know the quantum of damage to the roads.
Speaking to Greater Kashmir, Chief Engineer, R&B Kashmir, Showkat Ahmad said that snowfall and harsh winter conditions caused damage to some of the roads. “At some places we have started repair and patchwork, but on full scale hopefully we will start the macadamization and other repair works from mid-March provided the weather is feasible for these activities.”
Chairman, Jammu and Kashmir Contractors Coordination Committee, Ghulam Jeelani Purza, said at many places, the blacktopped roads were damaged by the JCBs and tractors which were used for clearing the snow. “Unfortunately in Kashmir we don’t have sophisticated snow clearing machines.”
Meanwhile, Kashmir Trade Alliance (KTA) has urged the government to immediately repair the potholed roads. “Due to heavy snowfall, roads in several parts of Srinagar and other districts of Kashmir have developed potholes which are causing lots of problems to the commuters and drivers. Besides, most of the street lights have also turned defunct with the result several marketplaces reel in darkness in the evenings. The defunct LED and High Pressure Sodium Vapour (HPSV) need to be replaced at the earliest,” said KTA president Ajaz Shahdhar.