Sopore, Aug 01 (KNS):Residents of Hartar village in Sopore held a peaceful protest on Thursday, demanding immediate repair of a 600-metre road that connects Baramulla and Bandipora districts. The road has been in poor condition for over ten years due to confusion over which district is responsible for its maintenance.

Despite being a short stretch, the road is important for daily travel in north Kashmir. Locals say it is filled with potholes and loose gravel, which creates dust and poses a health risk, especially to children and the elderly. They complain that the issue has been ignored for years, and repeated appeals to the administration have brought no results.

The main problem, according to residents, is that the Baramulla administration claims the road falls under Bandipora, while Bandipora says it belongs to Baramulla.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp ChannelDue to this blame game, no department has taken responsibility, and the condition of the road continues to worsen, especially during rains when it turns muddy and slippery.

Locals are urging the authorities to resolve the jurisdictional confusion and begin macadamisation immediately. They warn that if the issue is not addressed, they will intensify their protests in the coming days.

When contacted, the ADC Sopore said the road was initially under the JKPCC but has now been handed over to the R&B department. He expressed hope that the repair work will begin soon to reduce public inconvenience.(KNS)