CM wants road to be handed over to J&K Govt
Suhail Bhat
SRINAGAR, Sept 15: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today spoke to Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari regarding the condition of the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway (NH44) and was assured that “concrete steps will be taken within the next 24 hours” to address the problem.
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In a post on X, Omar wrote, “Just spoke to Union Minister MORTH India Nitin Gadkari regarding the situation along NH 44 and the lack of connectivity with the rest of the country along this vital link. The frustration of fruit growers is understandable. They have been very patient for the first few days, but watching their hard work rot because NHIDCL is unable to stabilize the highway, their patience has worn thin, and that is totally understandable,” he said.
“Some concrete steps will be taken within the next 24 hours to address this problem, but I will wait for that to happen before I say any more about the proposed plan of action.”
Earlier, Omar today said he will raise the issue of restoring the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway with Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari, urging that the vital road be handed over to the Jammu and Kashmir Government for speedy repairs.
Addressing reporters in Srinagar, he said the suspension of heavy vehicular traffic on the highway has hit fruit growers and dealers hard during the peak harvest season. “If it was my highway, I would have opened it. This highway belongs to the Government of India. If it does not work with them, then they should hand it over to us. I will send a team of engineers there and get it fixed. It is enough for us now. We have worked patiently because they used to tell us that it will be done today. But it is not happening,” he said.
“This highway should be handed over to us quickly. It should be restored and opened for trucks, as fruit growers and dealers are bearing losses,” he said.
Omar also urged the Railway Ministry to run freight trains regularly instead of symbolic gestures. “Nothing will happen by running one train. We are grateful for the fact that you have run one train. Please run it often so that fruit growers and other traders can send their goods by train. Those who want to send it by road can do so. Today, one train’s ceremonial flag was taken off. We are grateful, but please run it again and again until the highway is completely stabilized,” he said.
On the detention of Doda MLA Mehraj Malik under the Public Safety Act (PSA), the CM said the Government should withdraw the order following court relief. “If he had really done something worthy of PSA, then he would not have gotten relief from the court. Whatever his mistake was, it was not worthy of being arrested under PSA. The Government should accept its mistake and let him go without saying anything. The police should continue their investigation, and if something comes out, the court should be taken into confidence. But as of now, PSA should be withdrawn as soon as possible, and he should be released,” he said.
Speaking on the Waqf Bill, Omar accused the Government of targeting one community. “We have already said that people of one religion are being targeted. Only the offices and properties of the particular religion have been brought under this law. It is a good thing that the Supreme Court has also understood this, and it is a very important issue. Where the Government is accusing any Waqf board of illegally occupying land, it cannot take that land back until the investigation is completed. That is a good thing. If the rest of the objectionable parts also come out one by one, it will be good,” he said.
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