Sheikh Saleem
Srinagar, August 05: The demand for widening of Anantnag -Dooru Shahabad – Veerinag road is growing louder as the area witnesses huge traffic jams.
The road witnesses huge rush owing to flow of tourists to several tourist spots that fall enroute including Verinag, Kaba Marg Shrine and other shrines in Dooru that witness a huge rush of people.
Locals said the traffic has increased manifold after the Government Medical College Anantnag was established on the Anantnag-Dooru road.
Locals said the Verinag-Dooru-Anatnag Corridor is one of the oldest roads of the state constructed by the first Chief Minister of the erstwhile state, Mir Qasim who was the resident of Dooru-Shahabad. The road continues to be single lane since then as the successive governments has ignored the road despite having public importance. The road also acts as a bypass for the National Highway as the traffic is diverted to this road when the national high witnesses traffic jam.
"The road is of prime importance as it leads to the Medical college, tourist places and several popular religious sites and also runs Parallel to the national highway but the government seems to be least bothered about this road, " said Mukeet Ahmad, college student.
The traffic has increased manifold over the years but the road is single lane and hence huge traffic jams are witnessed.
"We have many times requested the district Administration to formulate plan for road widening in the area, however no action has been taken so far,” they said.
They said the road widening has been long pending demand of people of the residents of Anantnag and other adjoining areas to connect them with Verinag, Dooru and Medical College.
A senior officer of the Roads and Buildings Department said that a plan for widening has been formulated by the department and is pending for want of funds.
The residents appeal the Divisional Commissioner Kashmir and Deputy Commissioner to look into their demand and take necessary action for their redressal. (The picture used in the news is representational)
