The mushrooming of “illegal structures” along the Narbal-Baramulla highway has deflated the tall claims of the Jammu and Kashmir government over approval of four-laning proposal of the 40-km highway.
Addressing delegations in Sopore last year, Works Minister Naeem Akhtar had said that the four-laning of Srinagar-Baramulla highway from Narbal onwards has already been approved by the Centre and DPR is being prepared for the project after which the work will start immediately.
While the Beacon authorities maintain that the road width has to be 200 metres on either side, the district authorities said that there is no clarity on the project yet.
Responding to a communication by Baramulla Degree College authorities over seeking building permission, Border Roads Organisation (BRO) wrote on January 15: “The National Highway (NH-1A) Srinagar-Baramulla four lane road width right of way (ROW) is 200 feet, i.e. 120 feet left side and 80 feet right side from the centre line of the existing road. Hence it is informed any type of construction within the right of way (ROW) is not allowed.”
Notwithstanding the claims of the Works Minister, there is no let-up in construction of structures all along the highway from Narbal to Baramulla. Scores of shopping complexes are being constructed while residential houses are being constructed within the ROW with due permission from the district authorities.
In Baramulla alone, several shopping complexes have been constructed since past one year while “influential people” have got permission for several other such buildings, said a source.
“All these commercial buildings are coming up in violation of the norms set up for the proposed four lane project. We have already communicated to the district authorities about the details of the proposed project and it is their duty to ensure that no construction is allowed within 200 feet on either side of the highway,” said a BRO official, wishing anonymity.
The survey to check the feasibility of the highway carried out in 2012-13 had suggested to bypass Pattan, Sangrama and Baramulla towns to bring down costs of compensation as huge proprietary land was affected by the highway expansion, he said.
However, the survey report was binned due to “unknown reasons”, and it is believed that a fresh survey will be conducted soon.
When contacted, Deputy Commissioner Baramulla Dr. Nisar Ahmad Naqash said nothing is yet clear about the proposed upgradation of Srinagar-Baramulla highway.
“We are likely to conduct a meeting with the officials of BRO soon in connection with the proposed project,” he said.
Responding to reports of violation of norms, he said: “If there is a violation of norms while constructing a building on the highway, we will look into it. But, it is duty of highway division of R&B department to stop such constructions,” he said.