Meetings after meetings grope for road widening; Kadlabal-Lasjan alternative link upgradation turns mockery; traffic jams worsen

SYED IMRAN ALI HAMDANI

Srinagar, Aug 5: Pantha Chowk, a crucial stretch of the Srinagar-Jammu highway has been witnessing harrowing traffic jams for years while state government despite embarrassment at highest levels, has done little except for holding meetings after meetings for solution to the problem, which is swelling like the growing number of vehicles.
 At peak hours –the mornings and afternoons –the traffic on the busy road remains badly affected as vehicles are seen stranded. The queues at times last for hours resulting in serious worry for commuters while traffic police makes regulatory efforts on the busy, congested route craving for widening for years. The fate of critically ailing patient being rushed to the summer Capital for treatment can only be imagined amid gridlocks which at times extend to several kilometers.

EMBARRASSMENT FURTHERS
 The government seemingly sleeps on the issue despite the fact that earlier this year, even business tycoon Anil Ambani during his trip to Kashmir couldn’t stay immune to the mess but got stuck in the Pantha Chowk jam. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah didn’t find a better option than to offer the visiting dignitary the state helicopter for his travel in the Valley.
 But the helicopter offer came only after Ambani had tasted the pesky traffic jam, something which is a routine for Aam Aadmi in Kashmir and at times even proves costly for life of patient being rushed to Srinagar for treatment.

FORGET WIDENING
 Though the entire bypass was scheduled to be widened to 4-lane under the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) funded project, this particular stretch between Pactha Chowk and Zewan was never touched. While the NHAI people said they have given up the widening proposal for this stretch, the state government hasn’t been able to inquire about the alternatives and when they would realize.
 Sources said because of some “political and other compulsions”, the divisional administration was not keen on acquisition and subsequent removal of the main bottleneck – the shop line and some residential houses– to widen the road.
  “Otherwise the issue was picked up several times during meetings and Revenue authorities were asked to submit documents pertaining to the area, but there was no breakthrough,” the sources said adding this was despite the fact that “most of the structures coming in way of the widening are either on Nazool or Kahcharai land, for which no land compensation is to be paid.”

THE ALTERNATIVES 
 With no hope of any immediate road widening, last year the then Superintendent of Police Traffic, Srinagar  Maqsood- Uz-Zaman during a high level meeting proposed that Kadlabal Pampore- Lasjan Road, which caters to the tippers mostly ferrying construction material, could serve an alternative and be upgraded to decongest Pantha Chowk.
 Zaman had pleaded that the link road could be used to divert heavy vehicle rush between Pampore and Athwajan.
 Though the proposal was given a go ahead after months of thought, the decision again looked a half hearted measure. Sources said except for Roads and Building (R&B) department, other concerned agencies were not taken into confidence.
 This triggered hindrances. “Though R&B is working at its best on the upgradation and over 75 % of work on this six odd mile link road has been completed, a 300 meter portion will not be blacktopped,” the source said.
 Why? “This is because the Public Health Engineering (PHE) department is laying a 36 Inch pipe in the area,” said a source.

THE UPGRADATION ‘MOCKERY’
 On the other hand, the movement of tippers which cater to brick kilns and hot mix plants in the area has increased so much that the link road upgradation is feared to benefit but only the tippers.
 “The wisdom would have been to widen the entire Kadlabal Pampore –Lasjan road from 18 feet to 36 feet because it snakes along the Jhelum bund, supposed to be government land and so wouldn’t cost any money for land acquisition… Funds would be needed but comparatively less and only for land filling followed by subsequent macadamization,” said an expert.
 But in actuality, leave apart planning any road widening, the administration has even failed to safeguard the existing ramp. “For now the under upgradation road is being badly damaged by the people including brick kiln owners who have literally eaten away the sides,” admitted a senior official.

OTHER SUGGESTIONS
 Surface transport experts had suggested that till the government implements some workable idea, an alternative road link between Pulwama and Anantnag could also be upgraded. But till now, this too is confined to meetings alone.
 The recently upgraded link between Srinagar and south Kashmir viz Nowgam Chowk – Newa – Pulwama road was 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,” said an expert.
 The extra distance could be compensated because the route to Pulwama from Srinagar via Kanipora is around 9 kilometers shorter than the Lal Chowk-Pantha Chowk-Pulwama motorway.
 While the Minister of State for R&B Javed Ahmed Dar is in the know of the suggestion, the R&B is yet to take any concrete initiative.

GOVT VIEW
 Government looks satisfied with the situation because at the recent Srinagar District Development Board Meeting, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said he was personally monitoring the highway 4-lanning.
 Besides administration has banked on installation of traffic signals at the Pantha Chowk square, as if Red, Green and Yellow lights will compensate the much awaited road widening.
 “We will also improve traffic policing and depute more cops for effective regulation so that delay in road widening doesn’t cause much of worry,” said an official in the divisional administration. Also said there were some other proposals on cards as well. “It takes time but planning is on,” he added.

THE QUERIES
Though the entire bypass was scheduled to be widened to 4-lane under the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) funded project, this particular stretch between Pactha Chowk and Zewan was never touched. While the NHAI people said they have given up the widening proposal for this stretch, the state government hasn’t been able to inquire about the alternatives and when they would realize.
Surface transport experts had suggested that till the government implements some workable idea, an alternative road link between Pulwama and Anantnag could also be upgraded. But till now, this too is confined to meetings alone.
Though the Kadlabal-Lasjan link road upgradation proposal was given a go ahead, except for Roads and Building (R&B) department, other concerned agencies were not taken into confidence. This triggered hindrances.

Lastupdate on : Sun, 5 Aug 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 5 Aug 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Mon, 6 Aug 2012 00:00:00 IST