Locals, cab drivers stage protest against dilapidated condition of Hajin-Sopore road

Bandipora, Jun 6: A vital road connecting Sopore with Hajin in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district is in shambles for the last several years with authorities failing to repair it, locals complained on Monday.
The residents said that the road connecting Hajin area with Sopore Tehsil is in a dilapidated condition and the concerned authorities have been turning a blind eye towards it as they have not taken up any repair works as well.
Due to dilapidated conditions of the road, thousands of people of several villages are suffering, they added.
People have to undergo a lot of trouble and in case of any health emergency or maternity cases they suffer a lot, the residents complained.
“Due to the bad condition of the road, sumo services on the road has also been put on hold giving more tough time to the locals, especially students who have to use the road to reach their educational institutions,” Irfan Ahmad a local said.
“The road has developed deep potholes. Even the pedestrians are not able to walk on the road. The road has become a source of daily inconvenience,” he said.
“Expecting mothers, patients and elderly are the worst sufferers due to the dilapidated road condition and they face immense inconveniences,” Abdul Aziz another local complained. “We have brought this issue into the notice of higher ups several times but to no avail,” he said.
Meanwhile, locals and Sumo drivers association of the area also held a protest demonstration against the authorities for failing to repair it. While shouting slogans against the government, they blocked Sopore-Hajin road and staged a demonstration to press for their demand.
“We have kept our vehicles in our homes and we are on strike. We will continue to protest until this road is repaired,” Haneef Ahmad, a local driver said.
The residents of these areas appealed to the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir Manoj Sinha to personally look into the matter in order to redress their grievances. (KNO)