Budgam, Mar 24 (KNO): Residents of Kanikoot village in the Chadoora area of central Kashmir’s Budgam district continue to face severe hardships due to the absence of a fully functional road, even as over a decade has passed since initial construction efforts began.
According to locals, a 2.5-kilometre road connecting the village was partially developed in 2013 under the MGNREGA scheme with active support from the villagers themselves. However, since then, no significant progress has been made to complete or upgrade the road, leaving it largely unusable, particularly during adverse weather conditions.
“The road was started with our own efforts under MGNREGA in 2013, but since then, no authority has come forward to complete it,” Mohammad Rafi, a resident, told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO). “We are still walking on the same unfinished track even after so many years.”
The lack of proper road connectivity has badly affected daily life in the area. Residents say patients, especially pregnant women, elderly persons, and school-going children, are forced to travel on foot through rough and muddy paths. In emergencies, the absence of a motorable road often leads to critical delays, while services such as fire and emergency response remain virtually inaccessible.
“During medical emergencies, we have no option but to carry patients on our shoulders or arrange makeshift transport,” said Abdul Majeed, another resident. “Sometimes, reaching the hospital on time becomes impossible.”
The situation worsens during winters, as the area witnesses heavy snowfall, further cutting off the village from nearby towns and essential services.
“During snowfall, the village gets completely cut off. Even a small emergency turns into a life-threatening situation,” Mohammad Rafi added.
Kanikoot falls under the constituency of the Speaker of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly and MLA Charar-e-Sharief, Abdul Rahim Rather, who has also served as the Finance Minister. The area has also been represented in the past by former Agriculture Minister Ghulam Nabi Lone Hanjura during the PDP-BJP government. However, residents claim that successive representatives have failed to translate promises into tangible development on the ground.
“Our area has only been used as a vote bank,” Abdul Majeed said. “Leaders come during elections, make big promises, and then disappear. On the ground, nothing changes.”
Despite the Centre’s push for a “Viksit Bharat” and claims of rapid infrastructure development, the ground reality in Kanikoot presents a stark contrast.
“They talk about development and Digital India, but we don’t even have a basic road,” Mohammad Rafi said. “This is the reality we are living in.”
The villagers have once again urged the administration to take immediate steps to complete the road and ensure essential connectivity, saying it is crucial for their safety, mobility, and overall development.
Meanwhile, an official from the Roads and Buildings (R&B) Department, when contacted, said that a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the road has already been submitted and the department is currently awaiting approval for further action—(KNO)