Srinagar, Nov 01 (KNO): Senior IAS officer Dr Shahid Choudhary has flagged the lack of clean washrooms, unhygienic food outlets and reckless driving along the Srinagar–Jammu National Highway, saying such neglect overshadows the government’s major infrastructure improvements on the vital road link.
As per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Dr Choudhary, who is Secretary to the Government, Science and Technology Department and a former Deputy Commissioner of Srinagar, shared his observations in a detailed Facebook post after travelling from Srinagar to Jammu.
“The highway has truly come a long way—wider, smoother, and much better managed now, even though frequent landslides still make some stretches tricky,” he wrote, crediting new tunnels, bridges and road alignments for making travel faster and safer than in previous years.
However, he said, the condition of facilities along the route remains disappointing. “Most food outlets are unhygienic, and the much-talked-about Peerah rajma-chawal has sadly become a recipe for illness, complete disaster! There’s hardly a single place with a decent washroom for men or women, and rash driving seems to have become the norm,” Choudhary wrote.
He stressed that while infrastructure has improved dramatically, civic responsibility and basic amenities have not kept pace. “The highway shows how far we’ve come in terms of infrastructure. Now it’s time we match it with better civic sense, safer driving, and cleaner facilities,” he said.
The Srinagar–Jammu National Highway, which serves as the Valley’s only all-weather road link with the rest of India, has seen extensive work in recent years, including the construction of the Chenani–Nashri and Banihal–Qazigund tunnels. Yet, travellers continue to face poor sanitation, unsafe driving conditions, and a lack of clean food and rest stops.
Choudhary urged both authorities and citizens to take shared responsibility for maintaining standards along the route. “A little responsibility from everyone — travellers, authorities and shopkeepers alike — can turn this beautiful road into one of the finest journeys in the country,” he said.
His remarks have drawn strong reactions online, with many users echoing his concerns and calling on local administrations and highway authorities to ensure cleaner, safer travel facilities for all—(KNO)