Onlykashmir.in News Desk
The Awami Itihaad Party (AIP) has raised concern over what it described as the continued neglect of Sopore, arguing that the town and its surrounding areas still struggle with basic developmental deficiencies. Addressing a public meeting at Warpora in Sopore on Monday, party Chief Spokesperson Inam Un Nabi said the lack of progress was all the more troubling given that the area is represented within the ruling dispensation.
Inam Un Nabi drew particular attention to the poor condition of the Bandipora-Sopore road via Warpora, an important link between the two districts. He questioned why such a vital artery continues to remain in a state of disrepair despite its significance for daily commuters, traders, transporters and local residents. The condition of the road, he said, reflects the hardships faced by ordinary people who bear the consequences of inadequate attention to essential infrastructure. He urged the authorities to undertake its comprehensive repair and upgradation on a priority basis.
He observed that political representation in government must translate into visible development and tangible improvements in people’s lives, rather than remaining a matter of position alone.
Former District Development Council member and North Kashmir Incharge Muzaffar Dar said the continued existence of unresolved civic issues in Sopore raises serious questions about the attention being given to the town’s developmental requirements. AIP General Secretary Prince Parveez raised concerns over the absence of public parks and recreational facilities in Sopore, despite the availability of land. He said public spaces are essential for the well-being of children, elderly citizens and families, and called for available land to be utilised for creating parks and other recreational facilities.
The meeting was also addressed by senior party leaders Mohammad Shafi Wani, Bashir Ahmad Bhat, Sami Ullah War, Rayees Ahmad Sheikh, Mohammad Rather War and Mushtaq Ahmad War, who highlighted public concerns and stressed the need for focused attention on the developmental issues confronting the area.
Mohammad Shafi Wani said the people of Sopore deserve accountable governance, better connectivity and adequate public amenities. Development, he added, must be measured by improvements on the ground rather than by assurances alone.
Sopore, a major commercial and horticultural hub of north Kashmir, depends heavily on its road links for the movement of people and produce. Connectivity between Bandipora and Sopore matters for traders, farmers and transporters alike, which is why roads of this kind often become the first test of how responsive local governance is to everyday needs. The concerns voiced at Warpora add to a growing public conversation about the pace of development in the region and the expectations that citizens hold of their elected representatives.
