12 years on, Tral-Wahab Sahab road project remains incomplete

Pulwama, Oct 14: More than a decade after it was proposed, the Tral-Wahab Sahab road project remains incomplete, prompting residents of Tral and adjoining areas in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district to urge authorities to expedite work on the vital connectivity link.
Residents said that the approximately eight-kilometre Syedabad Pastuna–Wahab Sahab road was planned to connect Syedabad Pastuna in Tral with Wahab Sahab Shaar in Pampore tehsil, providing a shorter route between the two areas without travelling via Awantipora.
They said the foundation stone was laid in 2015 by then MLA Mushtaq Ahmad Shah and work was subsequently initiated. However, the project has remained stalled for years, with little progress on the ground.
Initially estimated to cost around Rs 16 crore, the road is a long-pending demand of residents, who say its completion would improve connectivity, reduce travel time and benefit more than a dozen villages.
Nadeem Ahmad, a resident of Tral, said the road would provide direct connectivity to Khrew and Pampore, saving commuters considerable time and distance.
“It is an important project for Tral and neighbouring villages. Its completion would make travel easier for students, employees, traders and other commuters, but people are still waiting for the work to resume,” he said.
Another resident, Wakeel Ahmad, said the road would provide a convenient alternative to existing routes and significantly benefit people on both sides.
Residents urged the administration, the department concerned and elected representatives to prioritise the project and ensure its early completion.
Meanwhile, an official acknowledged the delay, saying a Detailed Project Report (DPR) worth around Rs 26 crore had been submitted for the road’s construction.
However, he said the DPR is yet to receive approval and forest clearance has also not been granted. (KNO)