Srinagar, May 21 -- The 22-kilometer route, vital for daily commuting, transporting goods, and emergency services, lies in ruins.

Deep potholes and crumbling asphalt turn into pools of water when it rains, making it dangerous for vehicles and pedestrians alike.

For the people who live along this road - in villages like Trenz, Chitragam, Pahno, and Turkwangam - the road's condition isn't just an inconvenience. It has become a barrier.

During the rainy season, some villages are nearly cut off, making it harder to reach hospitals, schools, and markets. Local farmers struggle to move their produce on time, and during harvest season, traffic jams choke the road for hours near the IGC Lassipora area, where vehicles barely inch forward.

The ...