Early Times Report
UDHAMPUR, May 30: A small but badly damaged stretch of road near Sallian Talab Chowk, from where the Battal Ballian Women College road begins, has become a major source of inconvenience for students, pedestrians and daily commuters. Though the damaged portion is only around 50 metres long, its pathetic condition has been causing serious problems for the public for a long time.
The stretch, located in the middle of the city, is full of potholes, muddy water and a broken surface, making movement difficult for both vehicles and pedestrians. Due to stagnant dirty water and the uneven condition of the road, commuters are forced to move cautiously to avoid accidents and inconvenience.
Locals said that the road becomes even more troublesome during rainy days when the potholes get filled with muddy water. Since the road leads towards Battal Ballian Women College, hundreds of students, especially girl students, use the stretch daily to reach the institution. A shopkeeper expressed concern over the condition of the road and said that many students walk to the college every day. He added that whenever vehicles pass through the waterlogged potholes, dirty water splashes onto the uniforms of students, causing embarrassment and discomfort. Another resident blamed blocked drains for the worsening condition of the road. According to him, the drainage system in the area remains choked, due to which dirty water accumulates on the road and further damages the surface. He said that despite repeated complaints, no proper repair work has been carried out so far. The commuters have appealed to Deputy Commissioner Udhampur, Minga Sherpa, to direct the concerned department to immediately repair and re-carpet the damaged portion to provide relief to the public. Meanwhile, PWD XEN Udhampur said that efforts will be made to address the issue soon so that people do not continue to face inconvenience. |
