Chitragam-Drawini road in shambles, authorities in deep slumber: Locals
Shopian: The dilapidated condition of the Chitragam-Drawini road in Chitragam tehsil of South Kashmir’s Shopian district has triggered strong resentment among residents of several villages including Chitragam, Bandpawa, Thokerpora, Gund Darvesh, and Drawini.
The locals accuse the Roads and Buildings (R&B) Department of gross negligence and inaction.
Residents said that the road has never been macadamised and continues to remain in a pathetic condition for years. The presence of large potholes and the muddy surface, especially during the rainy and snowy seasons, has made the stretch nearly impassable. “The road becomes a muddy mess whenever it rains or snows, posing serious risks to commuters. It’s disheartening that no public transport services operate on this route due to its condition,” said Bilal Ahmad, a local from Thokerpora. “We feel completely cut off,” he added.
Locals said that despite repeated appeals and protests over the years, successive governments have failed to keep their promises regarding the road.
“Before every election, politicians visit us and make tall claims that the road will be blacktopped, but once in power, they forget everything,” said Ghulam Nabi, a resident of Bandpawa.
The residents expressed anger over the prolonged official silence and demanded urgent attention.
“We once again appeal to the concerned authorities to take this issue seriously and start the repair and macadamisation work immediately so that people can commute without suffering,” they urged.
They have once again demand attention of concerned authorities in this regard.