Kishtwar Villages Threaten Highway Blockade over Neglect of Dunadi-Bunjwah Road

SRINAGAR: The historic Dunadi-Bunjwah road, long regarded as a lifeline for several remote villages in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar district, has fallen into alarming disrepair, prompting residents to threaten a highway blockade if authorities fail to begin immediate restoration work.

The road—known by various names such as Dunadi-Bunjwah, Kewa Pull-Kither, Tipri-Patnazi and Patnazi-Kither—serves as a crucial link connecting multiple habitations across the hilly region. However, no significant repair or maintenance work has been carried out since 2020, leaving the stretch riddled with damaged culverts, scuppers, parapets, and dangerously eroded surfaces.

Under the leadership of local activist Ashiq Wani, a coalition of villagers, including farmers, shopkeepers, and students, has mobilised to highlight the worsening condition of the road. They allege that official apathy and prolonged neglect by the departments responsible for its upkeep have turned daily travel into a perilous ordeal.

“The road is not just a vital link connecting various villages in Bunjwah to the wider district; it is fundamental for the health, safety, and economic well-being of our community,” said Shafqat, a resident. Locals said patients, elderly people, and expectant mothers face severe hardships while travelling to the District Hospital in Kishtwar or the Government Medical College in Doda. In emergencies, delays caused by the poor condition of the road often have serious consequences.

Beyond health concerns, residents say the road’s deterioration has crippled local commerce. Transportation costs have surged, farmers struggle to move their produce to markets, and shopkeepers report declining footfall. “Every journey now feels like a risk,” said one resident, adding that the road’s neglect has severely undermined the economic stability of the area.

Younus Keen, a long-time resident, expressed frustration over what he called the “deep slumber” of local authorities. He noted that the road had been handed over years ago to the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), the national rural road development programme, but no visible progress has been made. “We have been raising our voices repeatedly, but officials remain silent,” he said.

Residents from Bunjwah, Patnazi, Buddhar Kither, and Patshalla have jointly appealed to the Lieutenant Governor’s Administration and Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for immediate intervention. Their memorandum stresses the urgent need for repair work to prevent further hardship, particularly for those dependent on the route for medical and economic access.

As frustration mounts, the villagers have warned they will block the Batote-Kishtwar highway at Thathri if their demand for reconstruction is ignored. “We have waited for years, but our patience is running out,” said one protest organiser.

The warning marks an intensifying standoff between residents and the administration, with the community’s resolve underscoring the urgency of restoring a road that remains vital to the social and economic life of Kishtwar’s remote interiors.