Nishikant Khajuria
JAMMU, May 2: The Central Government is learnt to have refused to fund the land acquisition cost for the vital ring road projects in Jammu as well as Srinagar and also asked the State Government to make the toll plazas functional for ensuring proper upkeep of four-laned National Highway in J&K.
Refusing 100 percent funding for the Land Acquisition cost for the proposed Ring Road projects of the National Highway Authority of India in Jammu and Srinagar, the Union Ministry of Surface Transport has asked the State Government to explore some innovative modal and bear the cost, official sources informed the Excelsior.
Further, the sources added, the Union Ministry has also refused proper maintenance and upkeep of the newly developed four-laned National Highway till the State Government makes the Toll Plazas functional for collection of user charges from the vehicles plying on the road.
This was conveyed during a recently held high-level meeting between the Union Ministry of the Surface Transport, representatives of the State Government and other concerned agencies, sources informed.
Pertinent to mention that initiation of work on proposed four-lane Jammu and Srinagar Ring Roads has been delaying for the last more than two years as the State Government expressed its inability to share even forty percent of LA cost because of financial constraints and formally requested the Government of India to provide the said amount as a special case.
The NHAI proposal of constructing Srinagar and Jammu Ring Roads to decongest traffic and provide alternate communication for commuters, was given nod by the then Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in September 2012. As per the Feasibility cum Preliminary Design Report, the proposed 57.80 km long Jammu Ring Road from Raya Morh near Vijaypur up to Nagrota Bypass, will pass through Bishnah and R S Pura areas.
Similarly, the Ring Road project for Srinagar is proposed to start at Galandar near Pampore and meet the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad highway near Narbal junction in its Phase-I.
As the State Government’s request to Centre for fully funding LA cost was sent last year when the new Government in centre was in the process of formation, no decision could be taken earlier on the same.
According to the sources, the Union Ministry of Surface Transport has told the State Government to adopt some innovative measures for generating revenue to meet the cost of Land Acquisition. For the purpose, the State Government can develop food parks, chain of cold stores, and transport yards etc along the proposed ring road and generate revenue to share forty percent of Land Acquisition and utility shifting cost, which is only Rs 213 crore for Jammu Ring road, sources explained while quoting the Union Ministry suggestions in response to official communiqué from Director Planning, Public Works (R&B) Department, J&K.
The suggestions would be discussed by the State Government to explore the possibilities in this regard and a final decision may be taken soon after re-opening of the Darbar in the summer capital, sources hint.
During the high-level meeting between the representatives of the State and Central Government, the Union Ministry of Surface Transport also made it clear that Toll Plazas at Rajbagh, Kathua and Thandi Khui near Vijaypur must be made operational as a pre-condition for maintenance and upkeep of the newly developed four-lane National Highway.
Since the four laning work has been done on BOT basis, the Government of India is bound to repay the amount spent on development and upkeep of the National Highways, the Union Ministry officers explained to the State representatives, who had raised the issue of non-maintenance of the highway.
It may be recalled that both the Toll Plazas were completely smashed by the locals, who were up in arms against collection of user charges from the vehicles plying on the road.
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