SRINAGAR-ANANTNAG HIGHWAY IN A MESS Potholes, Water-Logging Give Tough Time To Commuters : KHALID GUL (GK) Islamabad (Anantnag), Mar 30: While work on the expansion of the Srinagar-Jammu highway is on at a snail’s pace, the existing condition of the road is pathetic. The road has been completely neglected on the maintenance front and is dotted with potholes and water- logging at several places, causing huge inconvenience to thousands of commuters. The RAMKY Constructions—a Hyderabad-based company executing the widening project of the Highway 1-A—was supposed to complete the work on the 70 Kilometer Srinagar-Banihal stretch by June 2014. However, official sources said with only two months left the deadline is set to be missed. “The delay has been caused due to sluggish pace of work by the executing agency and also due to lackadaisical approach of the state government which has failed to facilitate land acquisition in time,” said an official, wishing anonymity. “The RAMKY has now approached the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) and sought 12-month extension in the deadline.” Pertinently, the 67-kilometre Sringar-Banihal stretch, unlike other portions of the highway, is free of topographical and geological disadvantages. Official said the work on Jammu side is going on in full swing. The RAMKY officials put the blame of delay in completion on the district administration. “It is due to the delay in land acquisition that the work has hit the roadblocks,” said Rakesh Kumar, Deputy General Manager RAMKY. He said the agency had to incur Rs 20 crore daily loss due to the delay. “Why should we at all afford to delay the project?” Kumar asked. The executing agency was also entrusted with the maintenance of the existing road, but its condition is pathetic. “As a part of the contract they were supposed to keep the already existing Highway in proper working condition; however they have failed to take proper care of the road,” said an official. The places along the Highway that have been completely neglected and are in a shambles include Lethpora, Barsoo, Pampore, Charsoo, Awantipora, Khanabal, Wanpoh and Qazigund. “The irony is that the road is dotted with potholes even outside the RAMKY headquarters at Lethpora and they are least bothered about the condition of the important road, which is the only surface link between Kashmir and rest of the world,” said Mubashir Khan, a daily commuter. The incessant rains and snow have compounded the problem. Greater Kashmir talked to a number of commuters who said these potholes along the Highway cause water- logging. “It is becoming a nightmare to travel on the Highway these days. The road is muddy and inundated in water at many places, making it difficult for the vehicles to ply,” said Arif Hussain. The pathetic condition of the road is giving tough time to the patients who are referred to Srinagar hospitals from South Kashmir areas. “The road is already congested and the pathetic condition of the road has added to the woes of commuters, particularly the ailing patients, as the journey is becoming cumbersome,” said another commuter, Reyaz Ahmad. The people residing along the highway said, “The road is water-logged causing inconvenience to the pedestrians. During summer, the authorities did not bother to macadamize it properly,” said a resident of Lethpora. “Even the expanded stretch of road, black topped last year, is damaged now.” Reports said chaotic traffic jams are witnessed along the particular stretches of the highway. “Normally it’s a one-hour drive from Srinagar to Anantnag but it takes even four to five hours to cover the distance because of the pathetic condition of the road,” said a Sumo driver, Sabzar Ahmad. “Even our vehicles have incurred damages due to the bad condition of the road.” The RAMKY officials maintain that they have been “taking care of the road.” The road has been damaged by snow and rain and we can’t do anything about it. We can black-top it only when weather improves, said Rakesh Kumar. Pertinently, last year, the Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Shalinder Kumar pulled up the concessionaire and NHAI for slow progress of work. “Divisional Commissioner Kashmir expressed great concern over the slow pace of work experienced on the Highway. Condition of Highway is quite shabby which is full of ditches and dust. The chair impressed upon the Deputy Commissioners to ensure that the work is speeded up by the executing agency. He also informed that he visited the Highway and hardly any man and machinery was seen working on most of the stretches,” minutes of the-then meeting read. During the meeting, Project Director NHAI had assured the government that “all efforts will be made to complete the project within the stipulated time frame”.
Posted on: Mon, 31 Mar 2014 15:36:28 +0000
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