Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, May 25: Union Government has given go ahead to Jammu and Kashmir Government for up-gradation of National Highway from Batote to Kishtwar via Chenani-Sudh Mahadev-Khelani following reports by the geological experts that Batote-Kishtwar Highway is sinking fast.
The construction work will be done by National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation (NHIDCL), which is a fully owned company of the Union Ministry of Road Transport & Highways.
Commenting on the development, Minister of State for Transport, Public Works, Revenue, Agriculture Production, RDD and Youth Services and Sports, Sunil Sharma, who was continuously pursuing the project, said, “we have been asked to prepare detailed project report for realignment of the National Highway and submit it to the Union Ministry of Surface Transport as early as possible for approval”, adding “it has been confirmed by the geological experts that existing Batote-Kishtwar Highway up to Doda would become a history in the next few years”.
The new alignment would be Batote-Chenani-Sudh Mahadev-Khelani, he said, adding the road length would be around 110 kilometers, almost similar to present stretch of the highway. However, it would exit beyond area of submergence at Khelani.
Meanwhile, the State Government has set the process into motion for inviting tenders for preparation of detailed project report of the new alignment of the highway in view of frequently deteriorating condition of existing stretch of the Batote-Kishtwar, which is being frequently closed for traffic at various places or being restricted to one way movement.
“The existing highway is in worst condition at 25 places, where the road is sinking or submerging. There was urgent need for repair works on war footing to save the sinking road and make it fit for traffic before the Monsoon”, Sharma said, adding “State Government took up the deteriorating condition of the highway with the Central Government and apprised it about problems being faced by the people of Doda and Kishtwar districts, who are being compelled to spend several extra hours during movement on the road”.
He maintained that 110-km Batote-Kishtwar Highway, the only road that connects Doda and Kishtwar districts to rest of the world, was turning into a virtual death trap, with frequent rains resulting in rampant landslides and caving in of the road surface, posing great threat to the commuters.
“This highway was in a better condition till a few years back but successive Governments adopted a step-motherly attitude towards the area”, he regretted.
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