Imran Naikoo/Qaiser Dar
Baramulla 2 February (KNB): Major road connectivity of Sheeri to Laridora area of Narwav Tehsil in Baramulla district has been omitted from Languishing projects approved by Jammu and Kashmir Government recently, which has disappointed the people residing in several villages of the area.
The 13 Km major road connects around 20 villages from Sheeri to Laridora and further links around 20-30 villages of Kandi Area. Tourist destinations such as Gulmarg and Shrunz waterfall as well as Baba Reshi Shrine can also be reached through the same road.
After realising that the said project has been omitted from the ‘Languishing Projects’, which was recently approved by the Government, the residents of the area have been utterly disappointed.
The main road connects several Govt. Higher Secondary Schools, Hospitals and other government departments to the said area.
Similarly, students and government officials residing in the area face immense difficulties to travel and reach their destinations on time.
A resident told Kashmir News Bureau that the dilapidated condition of the road has made everyone suffer for years now and despite several promises made by the administration nothing has been done so far.
A student, Amir said, “It is a half hour journey to my college but since the condition of the road is in such a bad shape, it takes more than an hour to reach my destination.”
“We have stopped complaining because the residents have no hope left in the administration, which has barely taken the matter seriously through out these years,” he added.
Under the Central Road Funds Scheme of R&B department, the development of the road was started in 2017 but till now has failed to macadamise, construct proper drainage and embank the road.
Speaking to Kashmir News Bureau, Chief Engineer R&B Kashmir Showkat Jeelani said that those, which have been taken among ‘Languishing Projects’, are based on a certain criteria.
“The project works, which are completed almost 50 to 80 per cent already, have been included in the list of ‘Languishing Projects’ and the remaining ones will be funded normally under Central Road Fund (CRF),” he said.
He further said, ”Some time back, say about two months, we had the problem of funds but now the Government has taken up the important initiatives in the region and the roads which were worked upon, and around 80 to 90 per cent work was done, will be completed in the coming season.”
Er Jeelani said, “The macadamising season likely starts around mid May, that’s when the work will be initiated and hopefully those schemes which are around 41 in number, will be completed during the current year.”
He further said, “Hopefully, all in all work of around 70 road projects will be finished this year.”
Chief Engineer R&B Kashmir said that there is no particular reason behind the omission of Sheeri to Larridora road from Languishing Projects approved by the Government. (KNB)