Uri, Oct 21: With winter fast approaching, residents of Uri and Boniyar in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district are demanding a comprehensive winter preparedness plan to tackle recurring road blockages caused by landslides and heavy snowfall that frequently isolate their villages for weeks.
The mountainous terrain of Uri and Boniyar—situated close to the Line of Control—has long posed a major challenge to connectivity. While the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) significantly improved road access over the years, the same roads now suffer repeated blockages every winter, cutting off vital supply routes and stranding thousands of residents.
“There are nearly 230 kilometers of road network in Uri and Boniyar, most of which passes through upper hilly areas prone to landslides and snow accumulation,” said an official from the PMGSY department. “We lack adequate manpower and machinery such as snow cutters and earthmovers. If the department is equipped with modern machinery and sufficient staff, road clearance can be done far more efficiently,” the official added.
MLA Uri, Sajad Shafi, said that winter poses a recurring challenge for the region’s residents, primarily because of maintenance issues. “Once a road is constructed, the contractor is responsible for its upkeep for five years. After that, no one takes ownership of maintenance. Dependence on contractors for snow and landslide clearance delays road restoration every year,” he said. “The PMGSY must be further empowered, and there must be a clear mechanism for post-construction maintenance to ensure roads remain functional throughout the year.”
Locals from areas such as Dudran, Banali, Nambla, Gohalan, Churanda, Mayan, Silpathar, Maidanan, Zamroodpattan, Barnate, and Batgra said that delays in snow clearance often leave them stranded for several weeks. “Every winter, our situation remains unchanged,” said Muhammad Shafi, a resident of Nambla. “Contractors work at their convenience, often citing lack of JCBs or other equipment. In the absence of proper snow clearance machinery, JCBs are used, which end up damaging the roads further.”
Officials said the Government of India has approved 36 new road projects under PMGSY-IV Batch-I (2025–26) at an estimated cost of ₹292.33 crore for the Baramulla Parliamentary Constituency, out of which six projects have been allotted to the Uri subdivision.
However, residents and public representatives insist that beyond new projects, what Uri and Boniyar need is a comprehensive winter strategy to ensure uninterrupted connectivity. “Without proper machinery, manpower, and a pre-winter action plan, we will continue to face the same ordeal year after year,” said a local resident.
