KISHTWAR, Jul 24: Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde) Zonal President for Chenab Valley, Himmat Singh, on Friday urged the Government to expedite the restoration and upgradation of the Kuntwara–Kishtwar road, expressing concern over the soaring prices of essential commodities caused by prolonged disruption of road connectivity.
Addressing the media in Kishtwar, Himmat Singh said the poor condition of the Kuntwara road has virtually cut off the area from the district headquarters, severely affecting the supply of essential goods and creating hardships for local residents.
He said the disruption in transportation has led to a sharp rise in the prices of daily necessities, with vegetables and other essential commodities becoming increasingly expensive. “Due to the poor road connectivity, the cost of essential commodities has risen drastically in Kuntwara. Even the prices of vegetables have reached unprecedented levels. There appears to be no effective price regulation on the ground, causing immense hardship to the people,” he said.
Himmat Singh expressed disappointment that, despite significant technological and infrastructural progress in the country, people living in remote areas continue to struggle for basic connectivity and remain dependent on weather conditions for access to essential services.
He appealed to the Government to immediately undertake restoration and upgradation of the Kuntwara–Kishtwar road to ensure reliable all-weather connectivity for the residents.
The Shiv Sena leader also called upon the District and Block Administrations to take the concerns of people in Kuntwara seriously by ensuring adequate stocks of essential commodities in the region until normal road connectivity is restored.
In addition, he stressed the need to maintain uninterrupted emergency medical services on a 24×7 basis so that residents do not face difficulties during emergencies.
Concluding his appeal, Himmat Singh urged the Government to commence the road restoration work without further delay, stating that improved connectivity would not only stabilise the prices of essential commodities but also provide long-term relief and improve the quality of life for the people living in the remote Kuntwara area.