Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Apr 29: Jammu and Kashmir High Court today granted 10 days to the construction company entrusted with the maintenance of Srinagar-Qazigund portion of the National Highway to make it travel worthy.
The highway between Qazigund and Srinagar is full of pot holes and it takes around 5 hours to travel which otherwise used to take one and a half hours only. The RAMKY Infrastructure Ltd which is constructing and developing modernized four-lane Express way between Qazigund to Srinagar has to maintain the highway as well till it is completed. But over the years the condition of the highway is dilapidated and commuters face lot of problems.
Court in its previous order had pulled the construction company for not maintaining the highway. The company today gave assurance to the court that the highway from Srinagar to Qazigund will be made motorable for the public soon.
The Division Bench of High Court comprising Justice MH Attar and Justice Ali Mohammad Magrey after request from vice president and Chief Manager of RAMKY granted 10 days’ time to make the Srinagar to Qazigund road motorable.
“They also stated that subject to weather condition within 10 days’ time the road will be made travel worthy. Their statement is taken on record”, reads the court order.
The Court order reads: “The vice president and Chief Manager of RAMKY Infrastructure Ltd are present in person. They have undertaken that the road will be made travel worthy and it will be ensured that the commuters travel on this road without any problem.”
Court also directed the Traffic Department to formulate a mode in avoiding traffic jams on the National Highway and place compliance report before the court.
“In the interests of the commuters, we further direct the Traffic Department to devise a method for avoiding traffic jams on the National Highway, most particularly from Qazigund to Srinagar”, directed the bench.
The direction upon the authorities has been passed after the submissions of petitioner counsel that the distance, which would be covered within one and a half hour, takes 5 to 6 hours because of the worst condition of the road.
Court rapped the authorities when Advocate General Riyaz Ahmad Jan made a statement before the court that weather doesn’t allow the authorities to work on the road continuously. The court, giving the example of other States of the country where weather remains rainy for half a day and sunny for half a day, said despite that the authorities there are able to maintain the roads.
Court observed during the proceedings of the matter “court has been overburdened with the PILs this speaks mis-governance on part of the authorities”.
Advocate General submitted before the court that the Government is taking serious steps in ameliorating the lot of commuter who travel on the National Highway. He further said that the State Government has taken serious note of it at the highest level and immediate steps would be taken to ensure the National Highway and other roads are made travel worthy and the grievances projected in the instant PIL would be redressed.
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