Ishtiyaq Kar
Srinagar, Aug 10: Locals, traders of Parimpora area of summer capital Srinagar on Wednesday expressed resentment against authorities for failing in macadamizing Fruit Mandi road Link Connecting Bypass.
The locals appealed to Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to intervene and ensure blacktopping of roads.
Notably, the Parimpora Fruit Mandi was established in the year 1982 by J&K Government and spreads over 320 kanals of land. The Mandi houses Fruit business outlets, transport yard, petrol pump, automobile mechanic ventures etc.
However, locals rued the official apathy and said the “future of Mandi seems bleak.”
The locals said that the internal junction that connects the Parimpora area to By-Pass via Fruit Mandi stretch is full of potholes and expressed resentment against authorities for failing in macadamizing roads.
Javaid Ahmad, a local trader said that the internal roads of Mandi are “posing danger to commuters and pedestrians in both odd and even weather vagaries”.
“Though this Fruit Mandi ranks high at national level unfortunately the concerned departments are not paying attention in revamping its structure,” he said.
He said the Fruit Mandi witnesses a huge rush of people each day.
“However, due to bad connectivity of roads, people stay from this market,” another local Mudasir Ahmad said.
“If one has to offer prayers inside the Mosque, they have to cross scores of deep potholes and in wet weather locals and shopkeepers prefer to offer prayers inside homes and shops as bad conditions of roads do not allow them to step outside,” he said.
The locals added that the matter was brought to the notice of concerned officials repeatedly but without avail.
They alleged that neither Department of Horticulture nor the Srinagar Development Authority is macadamizing the roads.
One of the officials of SDA said that recently a local delegation had approached the department for resolution of the issue. “We have forwarded the proposal to higher authorities”, the official said.
He added that the department has taken the said matter seriously and estimation of the job is completed at this juncture. “We have completed the task. Let the higher authorities decide what to do taking the fund availability into account,” he said.
“We will act on what directions will come up from higher-ups,” he further added.
