The glaring disparity in highway development across Jammu and Kashmir is impossible to ignore. While regions like Jammu see rapid progress with a six-lane expressway from Kathua to Katra and a near-complete ring road, north Kashmir, particularly Kupwara, continues to be sidelined. The stretch from Srinagar to Kupwara via Baramulla is a narrow, overloaded road, moving at a snail’s pace of development, far from the standards of a modern national highway.
This neglect raises serious questions about the priorities of both the government and the elected representatives of Kupwara. The lack of a proper highway not only isolates this strategically important border district but also stifles its economic growth, tourism, and access to essential services like healthcare and education. Residents feel abandoned and collectively punished for circumstances beyond their control, fostering a deep sense of alienation.
Kupwara’s significance as a border district and its potential for trade, tourism, and cultural exchange demand better connectivity. A four-lane highway would revolutionize the region, enabling faster and safer travel, creating economic opportunities, and fostering better integration with the rest of the country. Improved infrastructure is also crucial for national security and the movement of goods and services in this remote region.
What makes the situation even more distressing is the lack of urgency from local representatives. Infrastructure development, particularly highways, should be their top priority, yet they remain largely silent on this critical issue. Their constituents deserve better advocacy for projects that can transform their lives and futures.
We call upon the elected representatives of Jammu and Kashmir, particularly from Kupwara and Baramulla, to break their silence and push for immediate action. The government must fast-track the process of upgrading the Srinagar-Kupwara route into a four-lane highway and ensure timely allocation of resources and completion of the project.
Kupwara’s people have waited long enough. They deserve the same opportunities and infrastructure as other regions in Jammu and Kashmir. A four-lane highway is not just about connectivity; it is about equity, economic empowerment, and inclusion. It’s time to end the neglect and deliver on the promise of balanced development across the Union Territory. Let Kupwara be connected, not forgotten.
