Sangam-Lassipora road in shambles, locals demand immediate macadamisation
Say widening at key spots is necessary to avoid traffic jams
Pulwama: The dilapidated condition of the Sangam-Lassipora road continues to haunt commuters in Pulwama district, with locals expressing deep resentment over the administration’s alleged apathy toward this crucial stretch that connects the industrial hub of Lassipora with the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway.
Residents and daily commuters said that the poor condition of the road has led to frequent traffic jams, increased travel time, vehicle damage, and accidents.
“Even a few minutes of rainfall renders the road waterlogged and unusable,” said Fayaz Ahmad Mir, a resident of Rakh.
“It seems parts of the road have never been macadamised, and we fail to understand why authorities keep neglecting such a vital link,” he added.
Drivers from the area also expressed concern over the soaring maintenance cost of their vehicles due to numerous potholes dotting the road.
“Our expenditure on vehicle repairs has increased drastically,” said Danish Ahmad, a local sumo driver.
“It’s shocking that despite being the lifeline to SIDCO Lassipora, this road is not getting the attention it deserves.”
Locals said that apart from macadamisation, this road needs widening at many key spots including Litter market.
Authorities have reportedly failed to implement a long-term solution despite repeated assurances, they said.
Executive Engineer of R&B Department Javed Ahmad Dar when contacted, said, “Some stretches and patches will be macadamised this year, but as of now, there is no plan for widening.”
Locals, however, are not satisfied with such temporary fixes. They said annual patching provides only short-term relief and the repaired portions begin to crumble within weeks.
“This road was last fully macadamised about five to six years ago. Since then, only patchwork is done each year, which lasts only a few days and adds to the problem,” said a local.
Demanding swift action, the residents have appealed to Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, senior leaders including Omar Abdullah, local MLAs, and Deputy Commissioner Pulwama to intervene and direct the concerned departments to fully macadamise the road and consider widening at vulnerable spots to ease traffic flow.
