Shops, other establishments destroyed for widening of Shopian-Bijbehara road

SHOPIAN, OCTOBER 14

Demolition of seventeen shops and two residential houses took place in Shopian Town here for widening of Shopian-Bijbehara road. The demolition was expected for a decade as these structures posed a serious threat for smooth movement of traffic besides continuing to be a critical bottleneck in managing the traffic in Shopian town. The widening of the road was taken in the year 2012 but did not happen as the shopkeepers demanded proper rehabilitation. During the last one year the acquisition and rehabilitation was taken on fast track basis under the leadership of Deputy Commissioner Shopian, Mohammad Yasin Choudhary. The widening of the vital Shopian-Bijbehara road has been approved by the Government of India and the project was sanctioned an amount of Rs 48.93 crore for the up-gradation and widening purposes. The road is the vital link to around two dozen villages that connects them to south Kashmir’s largest town Anantnag.

The widening of the road would provide way for development in the area as it would act as a main link between the people of Shopian with the National Highway and will in turn increase the economy in the area. This road would benefit half of the population of the district and would reduce the sufferings of people during the times of winters.