Srinagar, March 1, KNT: Residents of several areas in Srinagar’s old city have expressed strong resentment over the failure of the authorities to repair defunct streetlights, leading to inconvenience and safety concerns after sunset.
The malfunctioning lights, installed recently by the Power Development Department and Srinagar Municipal Corporation, have reportedly gone out of service shortly after their installation. Affected areas include Idgah, Waniyar, Safakadal, Barthana, Noorbagh, and Nowhatta.
Locals allege that despite repeated complaints to the concerned departments, no concrete action has been taken. “The streetlights in most lanes have not been working for weeks now. Walking in these areas after dark has become extremely difficult,” said residents.
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Ghulam Rasool Najar, an elderly resident of Idgah, pointed out that sodium vapour lights placed near the local graveyard are no longer functioning. “In some areas, lights have oddly been installed inside private yards instead of public roads, and even those are not operational,” he said. Najar added that around 300 such lights, each costing around eight thousand rupees, were installed in various parts of the city but have since become useless.
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Mohammad Irfan from Bangar Mohalla, Safakadal, stated that high-mast lights worth lakhs of rupees, set up by the PDD, also stopped working soon after installation. “We have approached the officials several times, but nothing has been done to fix the issue,” he said.
In response to the growing complaints, SMC Commissioner G. N. Qasba said the matter would be addressed soon. “Let a delegation meet me and pinpoint the exact locations. I will dispatch a team to repair the streetlights accordingly,” he assured.
Locals, however, remain skeptical and demand a time-bound repair drive to restore proper lighting in their neighbourhoods. [KNT]
