Ganderbal, Oct 11: The frequent and haphazard digging of roads by various cellular companies along the Srinagar-Leh National Highway in Ganderbal district continues to cause extensive damage to road infrastructure and inconvenience to commuters.
Reports said that roads along the Srinagar-Leh Highway have been repeatedly dug up by various cellular companies for laying cables over the past several years, without proper restoration work afterwards, compounding problems for commuters.
“While roads in Ganderbal district were upgraded and repaired to some extent after remaining in a dilapidated condition, cellular companies are compounding the problem by digging up roads for laying cables without carrying out repair work after completing the work,” local residents told Greater Kashmir.
They said frequent digging leads to traffic jams and makes roads prone to accidents, adding that the work is carried out during the day, causing considerable inconvenience to commuters.
Locals from Hariganiwan, Gund, Rayil and other areas said these companies were undertaking haphazard digging of roads using machinery such as JCBs, causing extensive damage to roads and inconvenience to commuters. The road from Ganderbal to Sonamarg has borne the brunt of digging by service providers.
“However, when it comes to repairing the roads, they shy away from their responsibility, while the authorities fail to enforce their writ,” Aijaz Ahmad, a local resident, said.
Sources said cellular companies had also come under severe criticism for violating the Right of Way Act, which requires telecom companies to repair roads damaged by them while laying cables.
The residents have urged the administration to look into the matter and take measures to stop such practices so that people do not suffer.
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