Pulwama: Locals in Kakapora area of south Kashmir’s Pulwama district have expressed strong resentment against the Public Works Department (PWD) for its continued neglect of the Samboor Bridge and non-macadamisation of the crucial Kakapora road, accusing authorities of ignoring their repeated pleas.
The dilapidated stretch, connecting several villages with the main town, has turned daily travel into a painful experience for commuters. Deep potholes and uneven surfaces have made vehicular movement difficult, with frequent damage to vehicles reported. “We pay taxes and expect basic infrastructure. Is that too much to ask?” questioned an agitated commuter while speaking to KNT.
Residents said the situation has persisted for months despite repeated appeals to officials of the Roads and Buildings (R&B) Department. The Samboor Bridge, which serves as a key link for several adjoining villages, remains in poor condition, causing hardships especially for school children, patients, and elderly passengers.
“The lack of attention from the authorities is unacceptable. If funds are an issue, they should take it up with higher officials. We can’t suffer indefinitely,” said locals from Kakapora, adding that the road network in the entire belt, including Newa, Lelhar, Ratnipora, Koil, Panzgam, and Litter, is in a similar state of disrepair.
Residents of Ratnipora said they had approached the R&B Executive Engineer Pulwama and Assistant Executive Engineer Kakapora several times to demand urgent macadamisation of the Pahoo–Ratnipora and other adjoining link roads but received no response.
When contacted, Executive Engineer R&B Pulwama, Javaid Ahmad Dar, admitted that the department was facing a shortage of funds. “The district received approvals for macadamisation of 20 works, which were successfully executed. However, due to limited funding, several other projects demanded by the public could not be taken up and remain pending,” he said.
With the onset of winter approaching, locals have urged the area’s elected MLA from Pampore to intervene and ensure the long-pending repair and macadamisation works are taken up on priority. “If the work is not done before snowfall, the roads will deteriorate further and make commuting even more miserable,” locals warned. [KNT]
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