Construction companies asked to maintain highway properly

Concerned over frequent closure of the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, authorities have directed the agencies concerned to ensure its proper maintenance so that transportation as well as tourism activities are not hampered, officials said on Saturday.

Travelling on the 270-km highway, the only all weather roadlinking Kashmir with rest of the country, had turned into a nightmare for thecommuters in view of the frequent occurrence of landslides between Ramban andBanihal stretch. Many have blamed the alleged poor planning and slow pace ofthe ongoing four-laning of the highway.

   

An official spokesperson on Saturday said that DivisionalCommissioner, Jammu, SanjeevVerma had visited Ramban on Friday to review theongoing highway widening and railway projects besides taking stock ofarrangements for the AmarnathYatra which is scheduled to begin in south Kashmirfrom July 1.

“Verma discussed at a high level meeting, the issue offrequent blockage of highway due to landslides and long traffic jamming causingmuch inconvenience to the commuters,” he said.

“He directed the construction companies for propermaintenance of the road stretch from Nashri to Banihal to avoid disruption oftraffic movement so that transportation as well as tourism activities are nothampered,” he added.

During the meeting, several issues and bottlenecks likedumping sites, land acquisition, compensation of acquired structures, shiftingof electricity towers, cutting of trees coming under alignment of theseprojects and other legal and technical issues were discussed, the officialsaid.

The Divisional Commissioner instructed the constructionagencies to strictly adhere to stipulated timelines and quality specificationsin these projects, he added.

Verma also directed the district administration to ensureclose monitoring and asked the executing agencies to achieve the targets withina fixed time frame, he said.

Emphasizing on the importance of highway four-laning andrailway projects, Verma directed the district administration and constructioncompanies to coordinate for removing bottlenecks, if any. He also directed theofficers of National Highway Authority of India to prepare a rehabilitationplan for those who donated lands, the spokesman said.

Meanwhile, arrangements being made by the administration forthis year’s annual yatra including establishment of ‘langars’ (communitykitchens) and other facilities were also reviewed.He directed the tourism department to installbio-toilets on identified locations along the highway, the spokesperson said.

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