Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Aug 17: The work on Dawar-Bandipora road which connects the District Headquarter with Gurez has not been completed even as 10 years have passed since its construction began.
The 84 kilometer road is in shambles as the work on it is going on snail’s pace. The 56 RCC of Border Roads Organisation (BRO) is constructing the road but sources say only “10 percent” has been completed in last 10 years.
The road connects Gurez, which remains cut-off from rest of the world for 6 months every year due to heavy snowfall. Several villages including Bakhtoor, Choorwan, Refuge Mohalla and Tarbal are situated along the road.
The Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) Gurez, Nazir Ahmad Gurezi, told Excelsior that he fails to understand why BRO is not able to complete work on the road.
The lawmaker said that he also wrote to Union Defence Minister about said road.
The MLA said that he has proposed construction of 1.5 long kilometer tunnel at Chhandaji via Zet Khus. He said that the tunnel would not only reduce 45 kilometers of distance but would also bypass Razdan pass, which is located at the height of 12000 feet above sea level. “The project would cost around Rs 100 to 150 crore,” he said.
“If the tunnel is constructed, the Bandipora-Gurez road would then remain open for 10 months instead of 6 months,” he added.
The Chief Engineer of BRO, Brigadier Ashish Kumar Das, told the Excelsior that work on the 84 kilometer long Dawar-Bandipora is going on.
“The road is being constructed and subject to clearance of trees and compensation, it would be completed by 2018-2019,” he said.
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