Srinagar, Dec 14: To clear city roads and keep them safe from damage, the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) will use snow-cat machines, which are special vehicles with a unique material layer to prevent road damage, said SMC Commissioner Athar Amir Khan on Thursday.
In anticipation of peak winter conditions, the SMC has divided Srinagar city into four zones and established four zonal control rooms to minimize inconvenience to people. The SMC has prepared approximately 55 machines for snow clearance, with 45 of them being recently procured in the past two years, according to the Commissioner of SMC.
The Commissioner highlights the corporation’s readiness for snowfall challenges, highlighting the procurement of essential items such as fuel, raincoats, and salt. Comprehensive plans for snow clearance, including a city-level control room overseen by a Joint Commissioner at the SMC level, have been developed.
Learning from past experiences, improved arrangements for snow clearance have been made this year. Deployment plans for personnel and machinery, operating in two shifts during emergencies, have been established. There are 2800 personnel on standby, de-icing salt has been distributed, and 85 permanent dewatering stations, along with 25 mobile units, are in place to prevent blockages.
He also mentioned that the desilting of drains in Srinagar city has been carried out to prevent blockages due to rain and snowfall. Additionally, 25 mobile units are ready to dewater in case the situation arises.
The Commissioner expressed concerns about the challenges faced by personnel and machinery during snow clearance operations, citing issues with people parking their vehicles on the roadside, which hampers their operations.
He urged residents to refrain from parking vehicles on the roadside. I appeal to people; it is our collective responsibility to avoid occupying lanes during snow,” he added.
