As autumn deepens and temperatures dip across the Valley, Srinagar’s residents are once again bracing for a familiar ordeal, potholed, half-dug roads that turn treacherous with every spell of rain. In localities like Habba Kadal, residents lament that their roads have been dug up multiple times for drainage, pipeline and other works, yet the final step i.e. macadamization, remains elusive. What should have been smooth blacktopped lanes before winter are instead rough, uneven stretches that reflect neglect and poor planning. The story of Habba Kadal is not unique. In some other areas, the pattern is the same, leaving residents to face the consequences. The failure to synchronize utility works with timely macadamization exposes a serious gap in urban management. Once the mercury dips further, the cold mix required for blacktopping cannot bind properly, pushing the resurfacing work to next year and extending people’s misery for yet another season. Good roads are not a luxury; they are a basic necessity. They affect mobility, trade, healthcare access, and quality of life. The administration’s focus on city beautification and tourism promotion will ring hollow if the interiors, where most people live, remain neglected. Civic efficiency must reach the by-lanes, not stop at the boulevards. The government still has a narrow window before the harsh winter sets in. It must prioritize interior roads, coordinate between departments, and ensure that no freshly dug lane is left unpaved. Citizens deserve action. Srinagar’s people have shown patience; now it is time for the administration to show performance.
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