Tral’s key issues: Voters’ call for completion of stalled projects, employment & industrial growth

As the electoral contest heats up in the Tral Constituency of South Kashmir’s Pulwama district, voters are increasingly vocal about their concerns regarding stalled development projects and the need for improved infrastructure.
The constituency, encompassing the tehsils of Tral, Aripal, and Awantipora, has approximately 98,156 voters, including 48,801 males, 49,348 females, and 7 transgender individuals. With the Assembly elections approaching, constituents are highlighting a range of issues critical to their daily lives and regional growth.
Tahseen Ahmad, a resident of Syed Abad village in Aripal Tehsil, underscored the urgency of completing several key road projects. Ahmad detailed a survey conducted in 2009 for a road connecting Syed Abad to Khrew via Wahab Sahab. Although construction began in 2020, progress has stalled after just 1.5 kilometers. Ahmad emphasized that completing this road is essential for reducing travel time between Tral and Srinagar.
Another critical project is the road from Hajin to Nagbaren, which would enhance access to the Tarsar and Marsar lakes, potentially boosting local tourism and creating job opportunities. Ahmad also called for the completion of the Panner Jageer to Pahalgam road via Lehindajan.
Shabir Ahmad, a local voter, highlighted the need for industrial development to tackle unemployment. He proposed using approximately 2,000 kanals of land at Shaldramaen, near the Government Degree College Tral, for an industrial estate.
Upgrading facilities at Sub-District Hospital (SDH) Tral is another pressing concern. Voters have called for the addition of specialized doctors, modern diagnostic tools, and additional technicians to reduce the need for referrals to tertiary care hospitals.
Jagat Maharaj, a Sikh voter from Nanar village, expressed frustration with the region’s neglect by previous representatives. He advocated for improved road connectivity and job creation for educated but unemployed youth.
In Awantipora, Mushtaq Ahmad proposed creating a playground for local youth to encourage sports participation. He also suggested a dedicated bus service from the State Road Transport Corporation (SRTC) for commuters traveling from Awantipora to Srinagar.
Izhar Ahmad, a young voter from Chersoo village, called for round-the-clock service at the local hospital to handle night-time emergencies and urged the construction of a ramp near the Chersoo-Kadlabal bridge to facilitate access to the national highway.
Senior citizen Mohammad Ramzan from Midoora Tral urged candidates to focus on addressing the growing issue of drug abuse among youth. He also stressed the importance of conserving the local environment, particularly the Chinar tree, and called for an end to illegal mining activities.
The Tral Constituency has been represented by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for the past two terms since 2008. Thirteen candidates filed nominations for the upcoming elections, though three were rejected, and one withdrew. Political analysts forecast a competitive race among the remaining four candidates: PDP’s Rafiq Ahmad Naik, the Indian National Congress-National Conference alliance candidate Surinder Singh Channi, AIP’s Harbaksh Singh, and independent candidate Ghulam Nabi Bhat.