Jahangeer Ganaie
Shopian, Oct 12: Residents of various areas in south Kashmir are calling for the immediate widening of the crucial Shopian-Litter route, saying the frequent traffic jams have become a daily occurrence.
Local said the narrowness of the road often leads to significant traffic congestion, affecting passengers, locals and travellers alike. They are urging the government to take prompt action to widen this important road to alleviate the suffering of commuters.
Younis Ahmad, a resident of Turkwangam, said, “The government has maintained this vital road well, but it connects hundreds of villages and experiences heavy traffic around the clock. Immediate widening is essential for the entire 22 kilometres from Litter to Shopian, as the narrowness often leads to accidents.”
Sajad Ahmad, a local fruit grower, said this road links numerous villages to the SIDCO Lassipora industrial area near Turkwangam, resulting in increased traffic, particularly during the apple harvest season. “With more people transporting apples to cold storage units, the route becomes especially congested in the evenings. It can take hours to travel the short distance of just two kilometres from Turkwangam to SIDCO due to the narrow road,” he said.
According to residents, the continuous congestion on this vital route, used by people from various districts, often results in traffic jams and raises safety concerns. They have repeatedly brought these issues to the attention of higher authorities, but they feel that little has been done to address their concerns.
Residents are appealing to officials to take immediate action to widen the road to reduce traffic jams and minimise the risk of accidents.
Meanwhile, an official from the Roads and Buildings (R&B) department said that a proposal for widening the road is currently under consideration by the government but has yet to be approved.
