Er. Vinod Malhotra
Jammu-Akhnoor- Poonch road is a very vital defence road which connects the mountainous border districts of Poonch and Rajouri with Jammu city, the winter and commercial capital of J&K. Its upgradation to National Highway status shall, besides strengthening defence preparedness on borders, give a fillip to growth of many economic activities in this region of the State which has a rich potential for tapping its as yet unexplored tourism potential. To kickstart this ambitions project, the Central Government has recently approved Rs 917 crore for widening of 30 kms Jammu-Akhnnor stretch of Jammu-Poonch road which works out to Rs 30.5 crores per Km – a very handsome amount (as per newspaper report). Since Consultants fixed to prepare this project are from outside the State (and thus may not be fully conversant with local factors), it is hoped that the State Government has incorporated following parameters in the Design brief given to them for due consideration while finalizing this road widening project.
Character of this road corridor from Jammu to Akhnoor is different from its stretch from Akhnoor to Poonch town. Unabated and unplanned urbanization towards its western side is fast pushing the urban limits of Jammu city towards Akhnoor town. Most likely say within 15-20 yrs, Akhnoor town is likely to spatially become peripheral part of Jammu city in a conurbated manner. The outer limits of local area of Jammu city under the recently approved Master Plan of Jammu, covering 650 Sq Kms, is very close to Chenab river towards Akhnoor side. In coming years, Jammu-Akhnoor road, besides being an important regional road would also be an important Jammu city road which requires that roadside development issues need also to be considered by the Consultants fixed. In coming years, intra-city (local) traffic shall form major chunk of total traffic volume on Jammu-Akhnoor stretch of this National Highway. Many commercial land uses are likely to come up on vacant lands abutting this road in years to come. Besides there are many road links culminating on this road forming T-junctions. Many of these T-junctions are under acute traffic stress on account of heavy intersecting traffic. A 2- lane service road, if not for the full 26 kms Jammu-Akhnoor road length, may be considered on traffic stressed stretches in the proposed widening project to lessen no. of T-junctions as well as to avoid direct opening of gates of various building complexes along this corridor on the main road. Grade separators (Flyovers), it is learnt, for road stretch from Bakshi Nagar T-junction upto Muthi (heavy traffic road length), are being proposed by the Consultants. Suitable off – road bus stops with lay-byes , safe pedestrains crossings (preferably sub-ways) site for public amenities and organised Hawkers/ rehri squares (they are part of city’s urban economy) need also to be kept in the proposals to ensure unhindered traffic flow, as road widening alone within city limits would not solve all traffic problems. Decisions for locating these roadside amenities need to be decided with active public participation by the Consultants (Unfortunately, as things are, in our system of urban governance, meaningful public participation while finalizing any major public-purpose Construction project is practically non-existent).
Ranbir Irrigation Canal tapped from Chenab river at Akhnoor runs along Jammu-Akhnoor road which is built on Irrigation Deptt’s land. With the artificial lake project on Tawi river in Jammu city hardly moving forward and looking abandoned by State Govt as per site conditions, Ranbir canal with its ice-cold waters, has potential for development of many recreational activities like parks etc, by its side at many locations from Akhnoor to Jammu. Unfortunately, as things are at present, unplanned urban growth and our uncivic habits of throwing solid / liquid waste in it, canal water is getting adversely affected by increasing pollution. It used to be a very vibrant source of recreation in summers when many Jammu residents would take a dip in it to beat the summer heat. But it is no more fit for bathing now. Since load of urbanization along Jammu-Akhnoor road would only increase in future, there is an urgent need to protect canal banks by providing green buffers on both its side. right from Akhnoor to Jammu city, As such Ranbir canal development/protection must get due attention in the Jammu-Akhnoor road widening project, which should be very sensitive to this important physical asset of Jammu city.
Recently, it seems that Rites, a Consultancy firm from New Delhi, has been asked by the State Government to survey and finalize alignment of proposed Metro-train service from Jammu to Akhnoor. Metro line would require its own right of way and most likely its alignment would be parallel and adjoining to Jammu-Akhnoor road. It is hoped that both these projects i.e road widening and Metro line alignment (even if it is at a very preliminary survey stage at present) are integrated at planning stage itself before finalizing any land acquisition proceedings keeping in view the long term vision in mind.
As we all know, city roads are also the service carriers along which major lines of any Utility distribution networks (like water pipes, electric lines, sewers, telephone lines, drains, cables, etc) are laid. Rapidly urbanizing areas along Jammu-Akhnoor belt would need to be provided various urban services in years ahead. Suitable ducts below the proposed side footpaths/berms need to be part of the road widening project so-that various main utility lines are laid underground for their better and more dependable service to the public in future. All electric lines/transformers need to be shifted in future from the Green Walkway developed by J&K Bank along Ranbir canal in Jammu city, in the proposed ducts as these overhead electric lines are often prone to damage by fallen trees in rainy weather months. Shifting of the same can occur later on but provision of ducts need to be kept in the road proposes.
Thirty years ago, the road level of Jammu-Akhnoor road was below the adjoining built up areas. But subsequent road surfacing many a times without any consideration for adjoining colonies levels has created severe drainage problems in them as road level has been raised by about 2′-3′. All over the world, levels of city roads are usually never changed as it can create surface drainage problem.. Consultants need to look into this issue and fix road level accordingly to ensure that surface drainage of this road does not create any problems for adjoining low lying residential areas.
Major portion of Jammu-Akhnoor road is within the recently extended urban limits of Jammu as per the recently approved Master Plan of Jammu city. It is hoped that JDA/JMC shall ensure regulated Urban Development along this road corridor in future by restricting growth and ribboning of major traffic generating landuses (like Marriage halls, etc) along this transport corridor for smooth traffic movement.
The State Government plans to develop Jammu city as a ‘Smart City’ under a Centrally sponsored program. Under it, let a ‘Smart Transport Corridor’ connecting Jammu with Akhnoor be envisioned and planned in an integrated and holistic manner. Jammu – Akhnoor road widening (30 Kms length) to be executed at a hefty cost of Rs 917 crore ought to be major part of this ‘Smart Corridor Project’ which shall have other components like Metro-line alignment, Ranbir Canal front development, profuse landscaping with evergreen Avenue tree plantation on its both sides in the entire road length, and various other required roadside amenities and facilities. Since National Highway Authority is expected to very soon initiate execution of this project on ground, it is hoped that the State Government has taken due care to project necessary requirements to the Consultants fixed to ensure that a holistic and integrated planning approach to such a vital road is envisaged for optimum benefit to the general public as and when this prestigious project gets completed.
(The author is Retd. Development Commissioner, Town Planning Organization, J&K Government)
Follow our WhatsApp channel
