Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, Jan 1: The rate of accidents on the 4-lane National Highway between Lakhanpur and Jammu has increased manifold as all the service lanes constructed by the National Highway authorities have been encroached upon at all the major stations, forcing all the passengers buses and other vehicles to take stoppage on the main highway making it more accident prone.
While the District Administrations of Kathua and Samba have yet to act in this regard, the Traffic police and the respective Municipal Committees, besides local cops have to wake up from the deep slumber despite the fact that bus-tipper accident at Chadwal in Kathua on Monday, in which three persons were killed also took place due to this mess created on the National Highway. Hardly, a fortnight back, two young bike riders lost their lives as a bus suddenly stopped at the Highway in Barnoti area and the bike collided with it from the back.
Right from Lakhanpur, which is also known as the gateway to the J&K State, there is literally a mess on the Highway. The National Highway authorities have created service lanes, by-lanes etc at the important stations like Lakhanpur, Hatli Morh, Kalibari, Barnoti, Rajbagh, Channi, Chadwal, Dayala Chak, Ghagwal, Samba, Vijaypur and Bari Brahmana (SIDCO Chowk), but at all these stations, all the service lanes have either become the fiefdom of the traders, workshops operators or Rehri, Pharriwallas. The traders have displayed their goods while vegetable/fruit and other vendors have parked their Rehris on the road. Even the footpaths have been totally encroached upon.
Some minibus operators are using the service lanes for the idle parking, which are otherwise, created for the stoppage of buses and other vehicles to facilitate commuters, keeping the middle portion of Highway clear and safe. No administration paid attention towards this issue while the respective MCs in connivance with the field staff encouraged those indulging in this illegal and unlawful practice due to monetary benefits. No doubt, Municipal Committees have increased their revenue by promoting this mess at Lakhanpur, Vijaypur, Samba, Bari Brahmana and Kathua, but it has been done at the cost of the precious lives of the citizens. Even the local police and Traffic Police cops have turned a Nelson’s eye towards this public issue of much importance.
Worst was the condition at these Stations one time, but the then Governor Jagmohan had shown extra courage and Administrative skills by removing all the illegal encroachments along the highways. Many structures were bulldozed to clear the highways for the public safety. But thereafter, the people again resorted to their old habit in the absence of any check from the Tehsil and District Administrations.
Samba and Vijaypur are the worst examples of such encroachments. The bus stand has been constructed at samba but all the buses plying between Kathua and Jammu and other destinations stop on the National Highway and that too, in the middle of the main lane causing frequent traffic jams. There is no identified bus stand at Vijaypur, Ghagwal, Hiranagar and Lakhanpur which are the main stations en-route.
A noted social activist from Samba, Raman Thappa said that like other parts of the country, there should be discipline on the highways. Nobody should be allowed to indulge in such illegal activity. Life is more precious and the Administration should do its job properly and effectively. It will definitely get the public support. He said the Bus Stand should be made functional at Samba and all the encroachment along service lanes be removed. He also demanded a raised foot-over bridge for public at main town and flyover for vehicles at SIDCO complex chowk near Basantar bridge.
Bharat Bhushan Sharma, another noted social activist from Kathua said that at Kalibari, Chadwal and Dayala Chak many precious lives have been lost in past 2-3 years due to accidents. Most of them have been caused due to choking of the National Highway and sudden stoppage of vehicles in the main lane of the highway. He said Administration and even Traffic police is aware of the fact but they have shut their eyes. Mr Sharma said nobody has stopped the administration from removing encroachments but there should be will to deliver to the people. They have not given attention towards this important issue. He also demanded proper maintenance of the highway and service lanes as it has been damaged at many places.
“Worst is the condition at Lakhanpur, where highway has been turned into a virtual `Khud’ and big stones have been scattered all around. Even after construction of new Toll Plaza, the condition of old complex and road there has not been improved. There is still a mess depicting shady picture of the State at the `so called Gateway’. Even police have raised barricades at some points of the highway where they are not required at all especially during the day time,” he added.
Deputy Commissioner Samba, Mubarak Singh when contacted said that issue is very important as it is connected to the public safety. He said nothing is above the public safety and he will issue strict instructions to the concerned officers and remove all the encroachments from the service lanes and footpaths at Bari Brahmana, Vijaypur, Samba and Ghagwal. He said idle parking at service lanes will not be allowed and he will activate the Municipal Committees and Magistrates of the respective areas to get the lanes free and take police help wherever required. Mr Singh assured that he would himself monitor the operation closely and there is need of regular monitoring by the field staff including Traffic and local police besides MC staff.
Mr Singh said that he has sent a proposal of extending flyover at Bari Brahmana covering SIDCO Chowk, one at Vijaypur and even at Samba/ SIDCO point near bridge, so that fatalities on highway are reduced. The DC said there is need of raising flyovers for public utility at important stations and the National Highway authorities should raise such public facilities.
Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary, Dy Commissioner Kathua said that he had already cleared some of the areas in the month of September 2014. Ge said due to work pressure during elections, he could not concentrate much on it. Dr Iqbal said that he was very much aware of this issue and will get all the service lanes of highway cleared shortly by using all the means.
Referring to the mess at Lakhanpur, he said there are some other agencies operating there and they should also look into it and cooperate. The DC said that for repair of road at Lakhanpur, he had recently released Rs 20 lakh. The area will be cleared there soon. Dr Iqbal further maintained that all the main stations like Chadwal, Dayala Chak, Barnoti, Rajbagh, Kalibari, Hatli Morh etc will be given due consideration. Moreover, he has written to the NH authorities to go for maintenance/ repair work as highway is in bad shape and bumpy at several points between Lakhanpur and Samba, the DC added.
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