Commuters and residents in south Kashmir’s Pulwama and Shopian districts are facing considerable inconvenience as several key roads have deteriorated, with potholes and water-logging making daily travel difficult and raising concerns over road safety.
In Pulwama, residents said several important roads, including the Payar-Pulwama Road, Circular Road and the Pulwama-Srinagar road via Kakapora, are in poor condition.
They said stretches from Pinglena to Pampore and from Kakapora to the National Highway-44 near Kandizal have developed multiple potholes.
According to residents, rainwater frequently accumulates in the potholes, making them difficult to spot and increasing the risk of accidents. The damaged stretches have also slowed traffic and added to commuting time.
“Potholes cause back pain to commuters. Many elderly patients have to take extra care while travelling along these roads,” said Arjumand Hussain, a commuter from Pulwama.
He said two-wheeler riders were particularly vulnerable on the damaged stretches, as potholes and uneven surfaces could easily throw them off balance.
“Bikers bear brunt of these battered roads. They have to constantly manoeuvre around potholes to avoid accidents,” he said.
Residents said the deteriorating road conditions had also increased travel time between villages and major towns, causing inconvenience to people travelling for work, education, healthcare and other essential services.
In Shopian district, residents of Thoker Mohalla in Karewa Shadab also complained about the poor condition of the road in their area. They said the locality is situated in a hilly terrain, making the damaged road particularly difficult to navigate.
“The road is in a hilly area and residents face tremendous hardships, particularly women,” said a woman resident.
She said pregnant women and elderly residents were among those who faced the greatest difficulty while travelling on the road, particularly when seeking medical care.
Residents said the condition of the road becomes worse during rainfall, when potholes fill with water and the surface becomes slippery, further complicating movement.
People in both districts urged the authorities concerned to undertake repairs at the earliest and ensure proper maintenance of the roads.
They said temporary patchwork would not be enough and called for durable repairs to prevent the roads from deteriorating again, particularly ahead of the winter months.
Residents also urged the authorities to inspect the affected stretches and prioritise repairs on roads connecting villages with hospitals, markets and major highways.
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