Srinagar, Oct 16 (KNS): The vital Anantnag-Sinthan-Kishtwar 210 kilometer road link, which is seen as an alternate route to Jammu-Srinagar national highway, is in shambles given the prevailing condition of the road.
A local nitizen posted on Facebook that the condition of this picturesque road has disappointed him.
“I have often travelled through this picturesque road in the last decade but was disappointed recently when I found its condition has deteriorated,” wrote a Facebook user, Mufti Islah, who is a senior journalist.
Islah in his post that has invited the attention of State Works Minister Naeem Akhtar said the condition of this road has deteriorated. “Not improved, not remained in the same condition but broken. The current status of the road is that the Kashmir stretch – a roughly 130 km from Srinagar-Sinthan top is done well and one can go actually race at 80 km per hour. But the real problem, according to the travelers, starts once one descends from the Sinthan top to the Chatroo,” he said.
According to the post, the Chatroo-Kishtwar stretch is okay, but can be improved. The Sinthan-Chatroo link is a 54 km nightmare. The 5 hours can be back-breaking even if you get into best of the cars.
The locals want government to answer if there is any political opposition, financial crunch or lack of will that stop them to renovate the vital road which is of utmost important for the families who live on the either side of the Pir Panjal.
Replying to the Facebook post, Works Minister Naeem Akhtar wrote: “This is of course a priority for us. Will follow up.” (KNS)