Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 26: Senior NC leader and former Minister Dr Sheikh Mustafa Kamaal has expressed his anguish over the present State of the Jammu- Srinagar National Highway stating that apart from the four laning of Jammu- Udhampur stretch completed and commissioned the rest of this highway is in many parts, in shambles.
Traveling from Jammu on this highway on March 16, he had to return from Ramban on account of rains and landslides between Ramban and Banihal. He made a second attempt on March 21 after four days of closure only to reach Srinagar after thirteen hours of journey negotiating treacherous spots and the never ending number of heavy vehicles that ply on this important NH round the clock leaving hardly any time for even its regular repairs leave alone the ambitious and much publicized four laning Project.
Cautioning the Government Dr Kamaal said that if steps are not taken to reduce drastically the number of heavy vehicles plying on this road day in and day out time is not far when this road will no longer be a dependable and safe for travel. In the recent past this road was closed for forty days at a stretch due to slide at Panthiyal .
It is, therefore, imperative to reduce traffic on this road to allow room for timely and prompt repairs and also help to speed up work on the four laning project failing which it will snap at vulnerable place faster than it can be put right. In this behalf the Mughal Road is the alternative subject to its being declared a National Highway by GOI and making a tunnel near the top so that it remains open round the year. Also the road from Rajouri to Bafalias Via Thanamandi be dovetailed with the Mughal Road which at present is, at best, a narrow single lane mountain road.
With this the dream Mughal Road Project of Sher –I- Kashmir conceived by him and work started by his Government in 1977 against Rs 20 crores carried forward by the Govts of GM Shah and Dr Farooq Abdullah till late 1989 and then again in 1996-2002 after a lull of Governors rule and militancy and formally inaugurated by the then CM Omar Abdullah will be fully achieved. This will be the alternative link NH and also a breather for NH-IA which then be taken up on war footing and made as good as the Jammu Srinagar NH-44.
Along with this, the two important roads taken up in 1977 and Duksum – Sinthan – Kishtwar road and Marg- Inshan road should also receive priority and attended to which they demand and deserve.
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