The trade community of Sheri-e-Khaas in downtown Srinagar has voiced their concern over the dilapidated road infrastructure, citing a significant decline of their businesses.
The aggrieved traders from Sheri-e-Khaas, while speaking to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) lamented the dismal road conditions, stating that poor roads are deterring customers from frequenting the area.
“Look at the pace of work, we are suffering. Just few days are left to Eid, and we are witnessing very low magnitude of customer footfall in this market”, said a copper trader.
The President of the Sheri-e-Khaas Traders Federation, Nazir Ahmad Shah highlighted that most of the roads in downtown Srinagar are either under construction or covered in layers of dust, dissuading shoppers from visiting.
“Just take a glance at the streets of downtown, they resemble a construction site with roads resembling surgical procedures, left gaping open and impassable,” he said.
Shah further highlighted that due to the ongoing works many shopkeepers have to down their shutters, citing that there is no way to walk due to the drainage and other works.
Expressing frustration, another shopkeeper pointed out that ongoing smart city projects have taken a toll on their livelihoods, resulting in a substantial decline in business. “We were better off without this. With Eid approaching, who would venture to shop amidst these crater-like roads? We’ve been enduring these dug-up streets for months now,” the shopkeeper lamented.
The Sher- Khaas trade body called upon authorities to expedite efforts to restore the roads of downtown Srinagar, urging that all pending roadworks be prioritized. They stressed the need for swift action to ensure the smooth operation of businesses in the area.
Meanwhile, a top official from Srinagar Smart City told KNO that the work is in full swing and is likely to be completed within soon within next two months—(KNO)