Four-lanning of the NH-1 from Jammu to Srinagar is one of the prestigious projects undertaken by the National Highway Authority of India. Funds have also been provided and much of four lanning of stretches of the Highway have been completed. However, the work on Banihal -Srinagar stretch is held up and may not be complied within the stipulated time. We learn that the hurdle in the completion of this stretch is the non-cooperation of the authorities of the State Government. The main difficulty is in acquisition of the land needed for the four lanning programme. The land owners whose land is to be acquired are creating problems and the State Government does not seem to be willing to seriously come to grips with this issue. Actually, it is the Revenue Department that has to do the acquisition job. The officials of this department are not taking their job seriously.
Concerned functionaries are reported to be passing the buck. But the reality is that there is not any serious flaw in the implementation of the programme. The Banihal-Srinagar stretch has been given on contract to Ramky Construction Firm and the total length of the stretch is 70 kilometers. According to official records out of 95 disputed land cases, 77 cases were settled so far for which an amount of Rs. 45 crore have been disbursed among the landholders till last year. It should be possible for the Revenue officials to settle the remaining cases also and thus pave the path for the constructing company to carry forward its work. Ramky Construction claim that they would have handed over the completed project by December last but it could not be done owing to the dispute with the land owners whose land is to be acquired.
Four-lanning of the Highway is essential to make smooth the flow of traffic along the Highway and to reduce occurrence of road accidents. Good deal of money has already been invested in the programme. The sooner it is completed the better would be the results. It will immensely contribute to the economic prosperity of the State and people’s movement will become easier. All that we can suggest to the Government is to expedite the final settlement of acquisition issue with the land owners and let the construction company undertake the four lanning without any obstruction.
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