Srinagar, July 6: Dr Ali Jan Road, a vital link between two prime hospitals in the City–the SKIMS and SMHS – is in a bad condition for the past many years as one of the two lanes, which was dug up for laying of drainage was never repaired leaving the travellers particularly ailing patients in trouble.
 In 2007, the Economic Reconstruction Agency (ERA) started work on drainage for which one of the two lanes was dug up. The work was slated to be completed in 2008. But till now it has been missing deadlines. The latest deadline is this yearend.
 But officials working on this project said that there was every apprehension that it would again miss the target of December keeping in view the “slow work pace”.
 “There is unnecessary delay in its progress. It is impossible to complete the project in time especially because of the climatic factors,” said an official, requesting not named.
 The two way traffic rush on the single road causes frequent traffic jams.
 “At peak hours, there is a long gridlock which takes hours to end...Ambulances often get stuck in it and one can only imagine the plight of patients,” said Ghulam Ahmad Khan a resident of Firdous Colony Eidgah.
 Sources said ERA has shelved the work due to termination of contract to some non-local agency.
 “The work has been abandoned and is supposed to be handed over to Roads and Building department,” they said.
 ERA Chief Engineer Khalid Muzaffar told Greater Kashmir that the contract has been terminated owing to some problems and would take time to complete.
 “We will handover the project to R&B and they will carry out rest of the work. But it will take sometime,” Khalid said.

Lastupdate on : Wed, 6 Jul 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Wed, 6 Jul 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Thu, 7 Jul 2011 00:00:00 IST