Owais Ayoub
Srinagar 29 May (KNB): The Roads & Buildings (R&B) department has been turning a blind eye to Sheeri-Laridora road, falling in Baramulla district’s tehsil Narvaw, for several years as no macadamization and patching of the road has started despite the promises from the authorities, locals said.
As the road is the main connectivity to important offices and institutions which include several Govt Higher Secondary Schools, Hospitals and other government departments, the R&B is for some quite time making promises for the macadamization of the road, as per locals, which barely is being seen worked upon by the department.
“The authorities are only making promises. No one looks serious about the issue, which has distressed the people of around 20 villages. The dilapidated condition of the road is giving us nightmares,” said an elderly local.
However, the development of the Sheeri-Laridora road started in 2017 under the Central Road Funds Scheme of the R&B department, but till now has failed to macadamise and construct proper drainage, according to locals of the area.
Another local said that the issue seems serious as it could impede other developmental activities of the area. “When there are no proper macadamized roads in any area, the expectation for the development of other sectors seems to be bleak. The government should think about it,” said the local.
As the CE R&B promised to Kashmir News Bureau last time about commencing work on the road — leading to important tourist destinations and connecting several villages of the area — by mid-May 2021, the people said nothing had been done so far.
When KNB contacted Chief Engineer R&B Showkat Jeelani regarding the issue, he said, “I would personally assess the condition of the road today as I am on another site at the moment.” He further said that he would check what the issue is and would sort it out as soon as possible.” (KNB)