Sangam–Lassipora road in shambles, commuters demand repairs
Residents demand immediate macadamisation of the vital stretch connecting SIDCO Lassipora
Pulwama: The dilapidated condition of the Sangam–Lassipora road in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district continues to cause immense hardships to commuters, residents, and traders, with repeated pleas being raised for repair works.
Locals and transporters from Naina, Lassipora and adjoining villages said the road—one of the main arterial links that connects SIDCO Lassipora industrial estate with the Srinagar–Jammu National Highway—has been in a pathetic state for years.
They complained of long travel delays, water-logging, vehicle damage and frequent accidents caused by potholes and uneven surfaces.
“The road turns into a cesspool after just a few minutes of rain. Walking or driving becomes almost impossible,” said Ab Rashid Dar a resident of Litter. “At many stretches, it seems as if the road has never been macadamised. We fail to understand why this crucial route is neglected year after year.”
Residents said that despite the road’s importance for thousands of commuters and industrial workers, the concerned authorities have only resorted to temporary patchwork.
“Patching hardly lasts a few days and then the situation worsens again. Full-fledged macadamisation hasn’t been carried out in nearly six years,” they said.
The poor condition of the road has also become a financial burden for drivers.
“The potholes damage our vehicles almost every day. Repair costs have gone up drastically,” said Shakeel Ahmad, a local cab driver.
“It is shocking that a road leading to one of Kashmir’s key industrial hubs has been left in ruins.”
Commuters said that traffic jams during peak hours further add to the chaos, with schoolchildren, employees, and traders reaching late to their destinations.
Accusing the authorities of indifference, the residents urged Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, political leaders including Omar Abdullah, and the Deputy Commissioner Pulwama to personally intervene and ensure the road is macadamised this year.
“We are not asking for anything extraordinary. We only want a proper road, which is our basic right,” the locals said, warning that prolonged neglect may force them to protest.
Meanwhile, an official from R&B said that patch work from Lassipora to Litter has been completed while patch work from Litter to Sangam has been tendered out and work is expected to begin very soon.
