Jammu-Akhnoor 4-laning highway project in limbo
* Bumpy road not up to NH standards, cost escalates
Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, Oct 12: Even after the lapse of about eight years, the much publicized Jammu-Akhnoor 4-laning road project which was sanctioned by the Union Government during 2018 has not been completed by the Government agency- National Highway Infrastructure Development Corp Ltd (NHIDCL), while it has yet to raise two bridges along 20 Kms stretch between Muthi and Khati Chowk near existing bypass bridge over river Chenab.
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Official sources said that about 20.350 kms road project worth Rs 194 crores from Muthi in Jammu up to Khati Chowk near Bypass bridge over Chenab in Akhnoor, was allotted to Mumbai based company M/s Tarmat Infra Ltd. But the work on this project was started late as the Tarmat sublet the work to the three different contractors having no good expertise in the field of constructing roads of National Highway standards. This process consumed some time besides DPRs, design of the bridges and other allied works.
While the work on the 6 kms length from Canal Head up to Muthi was executed by the Singla Constructions Ltd, but the work on remaining about 20 kms stretch was secured by M/s Tarmat Infra Ltd during 2018. After lot of initial wrangled, the Tarmat claimed to have started work on this project in July 2019. Two years time was given to the company for completion of this task. The contractor was given one year’s extra time in view of Covid and July 2022 was fixed as the completion target instead of July 2021. However, this project went on snail’s pace and failed to meet several deadlines.
The delay in completion of this project led to escalation in the project cost exerting extra burden on the public exchequer. The NHIDCL and the Consulting agency- Segmental hired for the purpose also failed to keep proper supervision on the contractors. Moreover, highway safety concerns were also violated at several road intersections.
Sources revealed that the revised project cost of this 20.350 kms four-lane project is now Rs 215 crores besides the escalation cost at the ‘standard rate’ per year. It may go around Rs 50 crores beyond the initial project cost of Rs 193.99 crores. The 80 mt span double steel bridge over Ranbir Canal near Dumi Malpur will now be constructed as its design has been changed after objection by the J&K Irrigation department. This has also led to cost escalation in the project. The contract of this project said to have been allotted to a Hyderabad based firm.
This project which is of great importance, is uncertain to meet next deadline of December 31, 2025. M/s Tarmat which has sublet work to the locals contractors, has failed to provide proper services lanes and the side drains. Moreover, the road is bumpy at many places and even at the joints of many bridges and culverts. The road is yet to be handed over to the NHIDCL by the contractors, but many potholes have been created on the road surface, that too, before its final completion. All the important drainage work, which is the lifeline of any highway, has been left incomplete after executing at only some stretches. The absence of proper and complete drainage will eventually damage the road besides compromising road safety during rains.
This bumpy and rough drive on the broken road patches at many places along this under construction road, has been causing much trouble to the commuters and specially the patients while shifting them from Akhnoor, Khour, Jourian, Sunderbani, Nowshera, Kalakote, Rajouri and Poonch areas to Jammu and back. Senior NHIDCL and NHAI officials in the region, besides the District and Divisional Administration Jammu must take cognizance of the matter.
Official sources said that the actual ground work on this 26.35 kms road project from Bhagwati Nagar/ Canal Head Jammu up to Khati Chowk, a crossing near new concrete Chenab bridge near Akhnoor town along bypass road was started during 2018, though the project worth Rs 917 cr was sanctioned during 2015 as part of Prime Minister’s Development Package Projects. The construction was taken up in phases. Work on the bridge over Ranbir Canal near Suyya No. 1 (Bypass) has been abandoned since long while work on two other bridges is going on at snail’s pace, ” the source added.
Sources revealed that M/s Tarmat Ltd, a Mumbai based Infra development company signed an EPC Agreement on 07.06.2019 for the work of “Up-gradation to 4-lane with paved shoulder of Jammu-Akhnoor Road section of NH-144 A from Ganesh Vihar (Km 6.000) to Khati Chowk (Km 26.350) of 20.350 Km length in the UT of Jammu & Kashmir to be executed on EPC basis (Package-Ill)” at the contract price of Rs.193.99 cr, with construction period of 24 months commencing from the appointed date i.e.12.07.2019. Mumbai based company Tarmat Infra Ltd sublet the work to contractors like Satish Aggarwal and Co.(Jalandhar), Janak Raj Gupta (Jammu), DRB infra projects (Hyderabad) and so many others. The project was caught in wrangles and it caused much delay in its execution.
Executive Director, NHIDCL Jammu, Sandeep Sudhera when contacted said that more than 90 per cent of the work on this project (Package-III) has already been done and the traffic is plying on it. He however, said that there were certain reasons of delay on the project. The design of a bridge over Ranbir Canal near Akhnoor Bypass had to be changed after objection by the J&K Irrigation agency. The design has been changed and now instead of 40 mts two spans, 80 mts span steep bridge is being constricted there. Work on another bridge near Muthi is also in progress and hardly 300 to 350 or more 500 mt road work is left which will also be completed shortly, the Executive Director added.
Sudhera claimed that March 2026 has been given the final completion target to the M/s Tarmat Ltd and we are hopeful of completion of this road by that date. On the question of bumpy and poor quality of the road, the ED said the rectification will be done by the contractor before handing over the road. With the plying of traffic the surface will properly settle down and if any bumpy stretch is left, it will be finished/ repaired by the agency, he added.
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