Lifeline road in Shopian’s Tukroo turns bottleneck
Residents seek urgent widening
Shopian: Residents of Tukroo and several adjoining villages in South Kashmir’s Shopian district have voiced serious concern over the deteriorating condition and inadequate width of a key road, demanding its immediate expansion to address growing traffic congestion.
The road, which connects Tukroo with Poshpora, Nazneenpora, Adoora and further links to the Fruit Mandi Shopian, is considered a vital route for thousands of residents, particularly those dependent on agriculture.
However, locals say its narrow width has turned daily commuting into a persistent ordeal.
According to residents, the road remains heavily congested throughout the day, with vehicles struggling to pass due to space constraints.
Nisar Ahmad, a local resident, said the situation becomes particularly grim during peak hours. “The road is so narrow that even two small vehicles can barely cross each other. Traffic jams are a routine affair, and what should be a short journey often takes hours,” he said.
He added that emergencies and harvesting seasons further aggravate the problem, leaving people stranded for long durations.
Echoing similar concerns, another resident, Aamir Ahmad, highlighted the road’s importance for the horticulture sector in the area. “This route serves as the main artery for transporting apples and other produce to the Fruit Mandi Shopian. During the harvest season, traffic congestion leads to delays, which often results in financial losses for growers,” he said.
Residents from multiple villages said they have repeatedly taken up the issue with the concerned departments, but no tangible progress has been made so far.
“We have submitted representations several times, yet there is no visible action on the ground. The condition continues to worsen with each passing day,” a local said.
The aggrieved residents have now appealed to the MLA Shopian and the Deputy Commissioner Shopian to intervene at the earliest and ensure the widening of the road.
They stressed that timely action would not only ease daily commuting but also provide much-needed support to the region’s agriculture-driven economy.
