Owais Ayoub
Srinagar 21 April (KNB): The Nagam-Nilnag road falling in central Kashmir Budgam district is in deteriorated condition from 2017 when its macadamization was done by the concerned department, said locals of Hafroo Batpora.
The locals of the area said that 21kms of Nagam-Nilnag road is an important one and connects 10-12 villages of Budgam. “It was 2017 when the road was last time macadamized and has come full circle, showing its horrendous condition again,” said a local from Hafroo, adding that patching of some part of the road done in 2020 could not even last even for a year
The road, leading to a tourist destination of Nilnag, if left without upgradation, can disincentivize tourists from going to the spot currently in its nascent stage of development.
However, locals also said that the deteriorated road condition has been a nuisance for the residents when the need arises to shift patients from PHC to Sub-District hospital Chadoora for medical care. “If sometimes a patient gets in a critical condition, there would be less chances for his/her survival because the ambulance could not reach on time to the hospital due to bad condition of roads,” said Sajad Ahmad, a local.
He further said it would have only taken fifteen minutes to reach Chadoora by Sumo if the Nagam-Nilnag had been properly macadamized and or at least been uplifted by the R&B with Khak Bajri’s filling.
On contacting Exen R&B Division Chadoora, Hilal Ahmad regarding the issue, he said that the road would be restored this year and has been kept in the proposal. “Out of 600 Kms of roads, only 33 Kms roads were approved for macadamization of late and then we have to go on with it accordingly,” he said.
Regarding not initiating any upgradation on the road for years, he said that the funds were not available with them. ”To macadamize all 600 Kms roads is not possible, as all roads are in bad conditions here,” said Exen R&B, ‘But we will be going to restore the Nagam-Nilnag road this year.” (KNB)