Aglar–Zainapora road in shambles, allege residents
Say road should be immediately repaired before wet season starts
Shopian: The vital Aglar–Zainapora road, a key link connecting several villages in south Kashmir’s Shopian district, is lying in complete disrepair, causing tremendous inconvenience to commuters, students, and patients.
Locals say the stretch has deteriorated to the point where even short-distance travel has become exhausting and unsafe.
The road, which caters to thousands of residents from Aglar, Safanagri, Chitragam, Zainapora and adjoining hamlets, has not witnessed any significant repairs for years despite repeated appeals to the authorities.
Local residents complain that the entire stretch is dotted with deep potholes and broken patches, making vehicular movement extremely difficult.
“This road looks more like a riverbed than a road. Vehicles get damaged almost every week,” said Abdul Rashid, a resident of Aglar. “If the administration can spend on new projects, why can’t they repair an existing lifeline that thousands depend on?”
Commuters said that even ambulances and school buses often get stuck on the road, putting lives at risk.
“Patients going to hospitals in Zainapora or Shopian suffer the most,” said Javaid Ahmad, a local shopkeeper. “Sometimes drivers refuse to take this route altogether.”
Transporters have also raised concerns over the deplorable condition of the road. According to them, the uneven and broken surface increases the risk of accidents, especially during rain and snow.
“Our vehicles suffer huge wear and tear. Many of us have stopped driving on this route during the evening hours because the road is too dangerous,” said a local Sumo driver.
People from the area alleged administrative neglect, claiming that while promises of repairing the road have been repeatedly made by officials, no work has been taken up on the ground.
“Every year we are told that the tenders will be issued soon or that repairs will start soon, but nothing changes,” said Mohammad Shafi, a resident of Safanagri. “We feel ignored.”
The residents have urged the R&B Department and district administration to take immediate notice of the worsening condition and begin restoration work at the earliest.
They appealed to higher authorities to prioritize the repair work before the winter season aggravates the damage.
