*Meager funds kept at R&B disposal for maintenance
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, June 14: Although Batote-Kishtwar National Highway1B has remained ‘death trap’ for thousands of commuters, its full restoration as well as alternate highway to the twin mountainous districts of Doda and Kishtwar is unlikely to become reality in near future for want of whopping funds and lengthy technicalities. The non-seriousness towards this vital link can be gauged from the fact that National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) has yet not conducted safety audit of the existing stretch and is keeping only meager funds at the disposal of the Roads and Buildings Department of J&K Government for its regular maintenance.
This road link for Doda and Kishtwar districts was being maintained by the Border Roads Organization (BRO) till December 2014 but owing to repeated concerns from different quarters over slackness of this Central Government body in proper maintenance of the National Highway 1B, the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways decided to change the maintenance agency.
Accordingly, by way of a proper notification this National Highway was handed over to the Roads and Buildings (R&B) Department of the State Government. However, within four months, the Union Road Transport and Highways Ministry again changed its mind and by way of a formal notification dated March 20, 2015 transferred this highway to newly floated National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation, which is a fully owned company of the Union Ministry.
Instead of looking after the maintenance and development aspect of this highway, the NHIDCL within few months of issuance of notification by the Union Ministry, approached the R&B Department of J&K Government with the request to look after the restoration work of 184 kilometer stretch on its behalf.
Stating that NHIDCL has yet not shown any seriousness towards this vital National Highway, sources said, “it has released only Rs 3.01 crore to R&B Department that too for ordinary repairs of the road, which otherwise is grossly inadequate for the task”, adding “keeping in view the urgent need to carry out maintenance of this highway the then Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed had also released Rs 5 crore in 2015 but the same could not bring much needed improvement on ground as for such a lengthy highway Rs 8 crore is almost negligible”.
The NHIDCL’s non-seriousness can further be gauged from the fact that it has not conducted even the safety audit of Batote-Kishtwar National Highway, which otherwise is imperative to make assessment about requirement of funds for maintenance, sources rued, adding “due to the failure of NHIDCL the R&B Department is also unable to point out the number of black-spots-the areas which are most vulnerable to the tragic road accidents”.
Notwithstanding the fact that hundreds of accidents are taking place every year in Doda and Kishtwar districts particularly on Batote-Kishtwar National Highway, the Government doesn’t consider this as most accident prone road in the State. This can be gauged from the reply furnished by R&B Minister to the BJP MLA from Doda, Shakti Raj Parihar in the Legislative Assembly.
“No, Batote-Kishtwar National Highway has not turned out to be the most accident prone road”, the Minister said while admitting that there are black spots on the road which become a cause of accidents. But, the number of black spots could not be revealed in the absence of safety audit by NHIDCL.
Although the existing stretch has virtually become ‘death-trap’, the concerned authorities have no other option but to watch as mute spectator the prevailing condition. The full restoration of existing alignment and construction of alternate highway is unlikely to become reality in near future.
This can be analyzed from the information furnished by the R&B Minister to the Doda MLA. “The R&B Department has formulated 4 Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) for full restoration of road from Batote to Sinthan Maidan at an estimated cost of Rs 95.30 crore”, the Minister said, adding “the DPRs have been submitted to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Government of India for approval and funding and the same is awaited”.
About the alternative road from Sudhmahadev to Goha, the Minister said, “expression of interest for engagement of consultant for preparation of Detailed Project Report has been invited by NHIDCL”. The consultant shall prepare DPR which will be approved by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, he added.
The tenders for execution of the project will be invited by NHIDCL after approval of DPR and the date of completion shall be decided by the Union Ministry after accord of approval to the DPR, the Minister further said.
This indicates that on one side there are no funds for full restoration of highway and on the other side even DPR for the alternate highway is yet to be prepared. “It is now amply clear that no immediate end is in sight to the prevailing condition and people of twin mountainous districts will have to risk their lives for unspecified period for travelling to different destinations”, sources said.
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