Srinagar: Almost five decades after Nallamar Road was constructed, the government has begun process for installing street lights on the road passing through Srinagar’s downtown.
PDD executive engineer (Shereen Bagh) Ali Muhammd Rather told Kashmir Reader that they have started work for installing street lights on the road. Apart from this, he said they are going to install street lights on Ali Jan road, Qamarwari and Bemina, which are without street lights.
Amid the prevailing uncertainty, the department has established concrete bases and laid electric cable to finish the Nallahmar project before the arrival of winter.
Giving details of the project, an official from the department said, 260 electric poles will be erected along central verge of the road. They will be fitted with LED lights of 120Watt, he said.
The road conceptualized after filling erstwhile inland waterway called Nallamar from Khanyar to Cement Kadal bridge was among the key developmental projects in 1970s. But since then, more than three-kilometer road which is lined up with commercial establishments and markets was poorly lit in absence of street lights causing immense hardships to commuters and pedestrians.
In absence of street lights, shops would shutter down soon after dusk and vehicular movement would also disappear.
Muzaffar Ahmad, a resident of Noor Bagh recalled visiting public utilities several times to get lights installed in vain. But now, he hoped it would solve their long pending demand and allow people to venture out after sundown. This, he said, is also going to extend hours for carrying out business in the area.

NAZIMA SIDIQ