Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, Oct 25: The delay in permanent restoration work after the recent rains, land slides and floods on the Jammu- Srinagar National Highway, heavy volume of flow of traffic towards Kashmir carrying relief and restoration material, has aggravated the problem of traffic jams for hours together on this busy highway.
The travel through this highway between Jammu and Srinagar has become a cause of headache and a fatigue for the passengers and also for the operators as the travel may take double time, particularly in between Udhampur and Banihal. Though the situation has little improved between Batote and Udhampur, yet the road between Batote and Banihal is still narrow/ single at many places where land slides recently took place. The BRO authorities just cleared the highway which remained closed for 14 days. It has enabled the movement of one way traffic at many patches, which creates traffic jams at many bottle necks which are needed to be cleared.
With the fear of being remaining caught in massive traffic jams in Banihal, Ramban and Chenani-Udhampur area, many light and medium passenger vehicles are now adopting Mughal Road route via Shopian, Pir Gali, Bafliaz, Thannamandi and Rajouri to reach Jammu. This has minimized some traffic load on the main highway via Ramban- Banihal. The traffic load to Kashmir with the movement of additional load carriers after massive devastation with floods in Valley has also added to the congestion on highway. This process would go on for several more weeks. The movement of nomads (Bakerwals/ Gujjars) along with their sheep, goat, buffaloes and horses is yet another reason of traffic jams. Despite having already identified alternate route for them to travel with cattle, they mostly use this route creating trouble for the vehicles on this busy highway.
One Surinder Singh, a Darbar move employee who recently returned from Srinagar said that it takes hardly seven hours to reach him Jammu from Srinagar in his own vehicle. But hardly five days back, he came to his home here and it took him around 13 hours to reach Jammu. Another employee Anil Kumar said the travel between Jammu and Srinagar has turned horrible.
Every one avoids to take to this route now. He said when he went to Srinagar about two weeks back it took him 15 hours from Jammu and now when he came here on Diwali, he covered the distance in 11 hours. He said light vehicles create double lane. Traffic police men stop the trucks anywhere on the highway. Up-going medium and light vehicles do not stop in the absence of traffic cops and down convey is also allowed and it creates traffic jams on both sides. This is happening due to mismanagement on the part of Traffic Police on the highway.
The local policemen of the concerned Police Stations should also assist Traffic police at least in the towns like Banihal, Ramsoo, Ramban, Batote, Chanderkote, Chenani and Udhampur to regulate traffic, he added.
DIG Traffic, Jammu (Region) Nissar Ahmed Khan when contacted said that IG Traffic J&K, Munir Ahmed Khan had taken review of this problem a few days back in a special meeting held at Banihal. He said that all the Traffic officials deployed on highway up to DTI level attended the meet besides respective local senior Police officers from Ramban and Banihal area. It was stressed to keep the highway through by taking extra efforts specially at the bottle necks. The Police help was also sought for keeping the highway clear at the major towns en-route.
Mr Khan further said that at some places where terrain is tough and road has washed away between Ramban and Banihal, there is need to restore highway completely. Due to single lane the traffic on one side is stopped and this also is one of the reasons of traffic jams. Secondly, the nomads along with cattle are moving down to the plains. They are also taking to this route as there is only route available for them in Banihal and Ramban area. This is the other reason and thirdly, a large number of goods carriers/ trucks carrying relief and other much needed material to Kashmir are reaching Valley and the volume of vehicles has increased. He said the BRO kept the highway closed for four days recently to clear the highway and improve road between Ramban and Banihal.
With this, lot of improvement has now been witnessed. Moreover, light and medium vehicles are being diverted to Mughal Road and this has also minimized the volume of traffic on this highway.
The DIG in response to another question said that in last four days, some improvement in the flow of traffic has been witnessed. He said there are no more traffic jams now as were being witnessed earlier. With this the timing for the up convoy has now been increased from 12 noon to 1 pm at Udhampur Traffic Control Post. Similarly, the timing at Nagrota TPC near Jammu has also been increased by one hour. He said nearly 40,000 vehicles are being added every year whereas, the roads are same. This is also one the reasons for congestion. But with the permanent restoration work on the National Highway, the movement of traffic will be smooth.
Chief Engineer, BRO (Project Beacon), R K Sharma when contacted claimed that road between Banihal and Udhampur stands already cleared and it is two- way. He said one should realize the quantum of devastation along the National Highway between Ramban and Banihal and in view of tough terrain it was very difficult to carry out restoration work so early. Despite this all, the highway which remained closed for several days was restored. Work on some patches is going on and it is continuing process. “One should go and see for himself the kind of work done there,” the BRO Chief Engineer said.
Mr Sharma further said that the stretch between Ramban and Banihal is two way. The work of resurfacing, which is recycling process every five years, has been started from Banihal towards Ramsu. “ This year BRO plans to resurface nearly 13 kms length between Ramsu and Banihal. It requires to improve the riding surface of the road,” the Chief Engineer added.
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