Kulgam residents demand widening of Bathipora-Manzgam road
Kulgam: The residents of Kulgam district on Monday demanded widening of vital Bathipora-Manzgam road saying that road has been left unattended for decades.
The residents said the existing road was narrow making it difficult for vehicles to pass through easily which at times result in traffic jams.
The residents said the road was constructed in 1957 during the Bakshi Ghulam Mohammad’s reign and since then no widening has been done for unknown reasons.
According to residents, the road is less than 12 ft wide and makes it difficult for commuters to travel smoothly on this busy route.
“Since last seven decades hundreds of roads have been widened but this vital road has been neglected due to unknown reasons,” said Gulzar Ahmad, a local resident.
He said that houses have also been constructed close to this road due to which snow from rooftop accumulates on the road which adds to the misery of the villagers.
“It is the main road which connects to dozens of villages but due to its narrowness, it becomes difficult for two vehicles to pass on the road,” they said.
They said that it is one of the shortest routes to dozens of villages to reach nearest hospital Manzgam but patients as well as attendants have to take long routes to reach the hospital.
“We have brought this issue to the notice of higher ups several times but to no avail,” they said and requested the authorities to look into the matter at an earliest.
An official said that the DPR for the upgradation of road was submitted but it was withheld as PMGSY has no schemes available under which the work on the road will be taken up.
Jahangeer Ganaie
