Baramulla, Sept 27: As the third and final phase of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections approaches on October 1, voters in Baramulla are voicing their concerns regarding persistent civic issues, the need for infrastructure upgrades, and improved road connectivity.
Mohammad Yousuf Dar, a local resident of Khawa Bagh, expressed frustration over the area’s civic challenges, stating, “These challenges are basic and need to be dealt with right away. It is important to address them quickly to create a cleaner, safer, and healthier environment for everyone.” He emphasized the need for the elected representatives to take decisive action on these pressing issues and called for a reduction in electricity tariffs, noting that ordinary people are struggling to cope with rising costs.
Ghulam Nabi Sofi, a shopkeeper at Main Town, highlighted the issue of traffic congestion, saying, “Every day, we waste hours stuck in traffic. It is frustrating, and nothing has been done to resolve this issue for years.” He suggested the establishment of a proper parking site to alleviate the congestion caused by vehicles parked outside shops.
Farhan Lone, a resident of Limber Baramulla, underscored the area’s untapped tourism potential, remarking, “To unlock its full potential, the government must invest in developing modern tourism infrastructure here. We have many waterfalls here and there is a need to boost them with proper road connectivity.” He criticized the lack of promotion and infrastructure, urging the government to take serious measures to promote tourism in the constituency.
Abdul Majeed, a trader in Old Town Baramulla, lamented the stalled vision of creating a “Greater Baramulla” through comprehensive urban planning. “This idea has been floating around for years, but we are still waiting for action. Lack of planning and red tape in permissions has made the people of the town suffer for decades,” he stated.
Parvaiz Ahmad Malik, a local at Boniyar, pointed out the dire condition of the road from Dachina to Salamabad, which has not been upgraded for decades. “Apart from roads, the people of Atheshampora are still without access to proper drinking water. It is unfortunate that we are still demanding these basic amenities during this assembly election,” he added. He stressed that numerous roads in Boniyar require urgent macadamization to improve access and connectivity, noting, “The condition of our roads is terrible. In some places, it’s impossible to drive.”
Suhail Ahmad Baba, another local resident, addressed the need for public washrooms along key routes, including the Baramulla-Baba Reshi road. “This is a tourist area, yet there is not a single washroom from Baramulla town to Baba Reshi shrine. While the government has installed ‘ODF Free’ signboards, there are no facilities available for students and tourists who frequently use this road to reach Gulmarg and Tangmarg,” he said. He highlighted the potential of nearby Shrung Fall as a major tourist destination if upgraded facilities were provided.
In the previous assembly elections in 2014, Javid Hassan Baig of the Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party (JKPDP) won the Baramulla constituency with 14,418 votes, while Ghulam Hassan Rahi of the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (JKN) secured 7,401 votes.
To facilitate a smooth voting process, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has established 908 polling stations throughout the district, including specialized stations such as Pink Polling Stations, Youth Polling Stations, Persons with Disabilities (PwD) Polling Stations, Green Polling Stations, Unique Polling Stations, and Model Polling Stations. Among the seven constituencies, Baramulla has the highest number of voters, with 126,321 registered, comprising 63,338 males, 62,978 females, and 5 transgender voters. The constituency will feature 158 polling stations, the most in the district.
