Protest halts traffic movement on Srinagar-Bandipora highway
Srinagar: Traffic movement came to a halt on the Srinagar–Bandipora highway after locals of Nani Nara Sumbal in Bandipora district of Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir staged a protest against BJP regime’s anti people policies.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the demonstration, which began early in the morning today, caused traffic congestion along the busy Shadipora–Sumbal stretch, already under strain due to ongoing flyover construction.
Long queues of vehicles, including passenger buses, private cars, and Indian army convoys, were stranded for hours as protesters blocked the road, demanding urgent repairs to a damaged footbridge that has remained in poor condition for years.
Commuters, students, government employees and patients faced severe inconvenience due to the blockade.
Locals said the bridge, which connects several nearby villages, poses a serious risk to public safety. “The bridge has been damaged for years. It is closed frequently for temporary fixes, but no permanent repair or reconstruction has been done. We have been appealing for a new bridge for seven years, but our pleas have gone unheard,” said a local protester.
The protesters also recalled that Deputy Commissioner of Bandipora, Indu Kanwal Chib, had earlier promised that work on the bridge would begin soon. “It’s been months since that assurance, but no progress has been made. We are left with no option but to protest,” said another local person.
