Darkness on Hyderpora-Tengpora highway risks public life, property

September 19, 2013

GK NEWS NETWORK

Driving down this south City highway comes with risk to life and property. More than three years after visit of the Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, to see progress on Hyderpora-Tengpora highway, there has not been much development in terms of lighting and road condition.

The road, has witnessed a large number of accidents mainly due to absence of streetlights, wrong-side driving, and wandering dogs.
Many pedestrians say they can’t use the road at night because it’s dark and unsafe. Even though streetlights have been installed on the route, they are not operational for the past several years while the concerned departments have failed to take remedial measures.
“The streetlights were on for mere three days after chief minister Omar Abdullah Sahib’s visit to this area some three years ago. And that is it. They put them off forever. It is completely dark road during nights,” said a resident, Khalid Bilal.
Bilal said the darkness suits burglars, who target adjoining localities and shops along the highway.
There have been several burglaries in the area in past three years and many shops have been targeted. In past two weeks at least three burglaries have been reported from the area.
Burglaries are not the only worry. Shopkeepers say the route has become accident-prone. “Any commuter, on way to Pantha chowk, once crosses Tengpora bridge faces a dilemma. He doesn’t know which route he has to take in the absence of streetlights and sharp diversion and this has led to many accidents,” they said.
During nights dogs are seen in the middle of the road posing threat to commuters. Authorities constructed two service roads along the highway from Hyderpora to Tengpora. But both the roads are in deteriorated conditions. Mostly they are being used by the shopkeepers and security forces to park their vehicles.
The residents appealed District Development Commissioner to look into the matter.

Source-http://www.greaterkashmir.com