Crumbling Roads, Rising Anger :Kashmir Residents Ask CM Omar Govt to Deliver on Macadamisation Promise
With peak summer slipping away, commuters say road repairs remain largely invisible across Valley
Traders, students, transporters demand immediate action as potholes, dust & traffic chaos worsen
Our Special Correspondent
Srinagar: As Kashmir moves deeper into the peak summer season — considered the most crucial window for road macadamisation and repair work — frustration is mounting across the Valley over the slow pace of blacktopping and road restoration, with residents openly questioning the Omar Abdullah-led government over delays in fulfilling its promises of better infrastructure and smoother roads.
From Srinagar city to district roads in Pulwama, Budgam, Baramulla and Kupwara, commuters say several major and interior roads continue to remain battered, dusty and riddled with potholes despite repeated assurances from authorities that large-scale macadamisation would begin early this year.
For thousands of daily commuters, the deteriorating road conditions have now become a symbol of administrative delay and public inconvenience.
“Every election and every new government comes with promises of world-class roads, but the reality on the ground remains the same. Half the summer is already gone and we still don’t see proper macadamisation,” said a commuter from Bemina, Srinagar, pointing towards pothole-ridden stretches causing frequent traffic bottlenecks.
In many areas, residents complained that damaged roads are not only slowing traffic movement but also affecting businesses and daily life. Shopkeepers in several market areas said dust pollution caused by broken roads has reduced customer footfall and made conditions unbearable during hot afternoons.
“We clean our shops three or four times a day because of the dust. Customers avoid these roads and vehicles move at a snail’s pace,” said a trader from north Kashmir.
Parents and students also voiced concern, saying uneven roads and dug-up stretches are making travel difficult during the ongoing school season.
“Children leave home early but still get delayed because vehicles cannot move properly on damaged roads,” said a parent in south Kashmir. “The government must understand that roads are not a luxury; they are a necessity.”
Transporters and cab drivers, meanwhile, said poor road conditions are increasing maintenance costs and fuel consumption at a time when inflation is already affecting livelihoods.
Several residents alleged that despite official announcements and tenders, visible work on the ground remains minimal in many localities. In some areas, roads were allegedly dug up months ago for drainage or utility works but were never properly restored.
The growing public anger has now translated into direct political criticism, with many residents urging Chief Minister to personally intervene and ensure that promises regarding road repair and macadamisation are fulfilled before the onset of autumn and winter.
“This government had promised better governance and improved infrastructure. People now want to see results on the ground, not only statements,” said a resident of central Kashmir.
Officials in the Roads and Buildings Department have maintained that macadamisation works are underway in phases and that weather conditions, funding approvals and ongoing utility projects have affected timelines in some areas. However, residents argue that June and July are the most critical months for blacktopping in Kashmir and delays during this period could leave several roads unattended for another year.
Urban planners and civil society members warn that poor road conditions not only affect mobility but also damage tourism, economic activity and public trust.
With temperatures soaring and traffic increasing across the Valley, the demand from the public is growing louder: repair the roads, speed up macadamisation and turn promises into visible action before another season slips away.
