Bandipora, Dec 18 (KNO): The Jammu and Kashmir R&B Sub-Division Bandipora has sought the immediate shifting of electric poles installed along Aragam-Chanpal road, saying the work was carried out without prior approval.
In a letter to the Executive Engineer of R&B Division Bandipora, a copy of which lies with the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the Assistant Executive Engineer has stated that poles were being erected at Aragam, Garrora, Brar, and Chanpal without obtaining a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the department.
The letter said the agency responsible did not coordinate with the R&B Division before proceeding.
The department said the road is already narrow and the installation of poles has further reduced the effective carriage width, creating potential safety hazards and increasing the risk of accidents.
The R&B Sub-Division requested that the poles be relocated to appropriate locations and recommended that no such work be undertaken in the future without prior approval and coordination with the department.
Meanwhile, local residents have also objected to the erection of poles in a haphazard manner, causing inconvenience to them.
“The road is already narrow, and these new poles have made it even more dangerous. Vehicles struggle to pass, and pedestrians have to squeeze along the edges,” said Abdul Rashid, a local shopkeeper in Aragam.
“Proper planning and coordination are essential. Randomly putting up poles is causing inconvenience to everyone here,” said Mohammad Shafi, a resident of Chanpal.
They urged the Deputy Commissioner Bandipora and the concerned authorities to take swift action to relocate the poles and ensure the road is safe and easily accessible for all residents smoothly—(KNO)