Srinagar, Dec 21: While harrowing traffic jams near Panthachowk crossing on Srinagar-Jammu highway continue to pester the commuters, the government, instead of taking any tangible measures seems to be waiting for some ‘heavenly intervention’ to take care of the mess.
 
‘THE PRESSURES’
 The divisional administration, according to sources, bogged down by political and other compulsions, is not keen on acquisition and subsequent removal of the main bottleneck – the shop line and some residential houses between Panthachowk to Zewan crossing – to decongest the road.
 “I have experienced during the past few years that there is suddenly a flurry of activity regarding the acquisition of these structures with the Revenue authorities being asked to submit all kinds of documents pertaining to the area. But after that nothing happens for months together,” a Revenue officer dealing with the area told Greater Kashmir.

GROUND REALITY
 Interestingly, the Revenue officer said that most of the structures including shops and residential houses from Panthachowk to Zewan crossing have come up on the Nazool or Kahcharai land for which no land compensation is to be paid.

THE ALTERNATIVES
 Meanwhile, surface transport experts suggest that till the government comes up with and starts implementing some workable idea, it can upgrade the existing alternate routes to decongest Panthachowk crossing.
 According to these experts, the recently upgraded, Nowgam Chowk – Newa – Pulwama road could be a viable alternate link connecting the Srinagar bypass with the highway near Sangam. While the road is already in good condition from Nowgam Chowk to Pulwama, it is to be upgraded by way of widening from Pulwama to Sangam through Tahab, Litter and Niana, to make it an alternate arterial link for the Srinagar-Jammu highway from Bypass to Sangam in district Anantnag.

THE BENEFITS
 Interestingly the route to Pulwama from Srinagar via Kanipora is around 9 kilometers shorter than the Lal Chowk-Pantha Chowk-Pulwama motorway. Simply put while the latter is 38 kilometers, the former is mere 29 kilometers distance.

OTHER SOLUTIONS
 Similarly, another alternative link could be Rambagh-Padshahibagh-Lasjan-Kadalbal Pampore along the left bank of river Jhelum.

GOVT SPEAKS
 When contacted Minister of State for R&B, Javaid Ahmad Dar said the department is working on various alternatives to address the chronic traffic congestion at Panthachowk and upgrading alternate links to the highway is being considered seriously.  “I have asked the Chief Engineer R&B Department to come up with workable alternatives and we would definitely consider this Nowgam Chowk – Newa – Pulwama – Tahab – Litter – Niana – Sangam route,” Dar told Greater Kashmir.

Lastupdate on : Wed, 21 Dec 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Wed, 21 Dec 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Thu, 22 Dec 2011 00:00:00 IST