Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, May 11: The 86 kilometer long Bandipora-Gurez Road was today thrown open for vehicular traffic after remaining closed for over five months owing to heavy snowfall on Razdan pass during winters.
A statement issued said the road was thrown open to traffic by GOC 28 Infantry Division, Maj General Harinder Singh in presence of Chief Engineer Project Beacon Brigadier AK Das at Razdan pass located at a height of 11672 feet. Brigadier Das said that the highway remained open for an extended period in the last season as the efforts of the BRO personals of Project Beacon came handy.
It is important to mention that the road was closed for all traffic on January 3 this year due to heavy snowfall. The snow clearance operation by Border Roads Organization commenced in March but was hampered many a times as the area witnessed unprecedented snowfall this year, said the statement.
According to the statement, the snow accumulation was around 30 feet at places which posed a huge challenge to the jawans for snow clearance. The Chief Engineer said that the BRO personnel had to face the threat of the avalanches all the time with the rise in temperature and they carried out the snow clearance well before the schedule date.
The Chief Engineer further said that “it was a great moment for us to throw the road open by connecting a huge chunk of the population of the Gurez with the mainland. While congratulating the jawans of Project Beacon, Major General Harinder Singh said the snow clearance amid adverse circumstances always test the nerves of the BRO personnel as the threat of the avalanches and the snow storms always loom large in the areas while working at this altitude.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
