MUZAFFARABAD (Kashmir English): The citizens have claimed that extremely poor quality of blacktopping is being carried out by the National Highway Authority (NHA) on a two-mile stretch of the Muzaffarabad–Jhelum Valley road, aka Srinagar-Muzaffarabad Highway.
Citizens and social activists have demanded immediate action from the governments of Azad Kashmir and Pakistan, as well as relevant authorities.
According to the locals, the ongoing work, billed as road repair and blacktopping, is characterized by the use of poor-quality materials, substandard machinery, and a corrupt contracting system.
The newly surfaced road is reportedly uneven, thin, and structurally weak, raising fears that it may deteriorate again within weeks or after the first spell of rain.
Residents said that the blacktopping done 15 years ago remains in better condition than the current work, alleging that corruption and lack of supervision have plagued the entire project.
Public voices claim that corruption runs deep within NHA, resulting in public funds being misused for personal gains.
Speaking on the issue, PTI Azad Kashmir Vice President Syed Zeeshan Haider said that the highway is not only a lifeline for the people of Muzaffarabad, Jhelum Valley, Ghari Dupatta, Ruwani, and Majhui, but also holds deep historical and national significance.
“This road once connected Srinagar through a bus service that symbolized peace and unity among Kashmiris on both sides,” he said.
“Today, this same road is known as the gateway of the Kashmir freedom movement, and the poor work being done on it is an insult to our national pride. The road built 15 years ago still stands strong, yet billions are being wasted today in the name of reconstruction.”
He demands immediate action against those responsible and reconstruction of this vital route to international standards.
