The potholed stretch of National Highway (NH) 44 between Patnitop and Banihal has put the lives of passengers at risk.
The health of local residents, especially shopkeepers, is being affected and the vehicles being plied on it are getting damaged.
The district administration is ensuring smooth traffic during the ensuing Darbar move and Amarnath yatra. A one-km stretch from the north portal of the Chenani-Nashri tunnel had become a nightmare for commuters since construction of the tunnel began.
Their misery compounded with transfer of maintenance from Beacon todifferent contractor companies hired by the National Highways Authority of India since 2011.
Every day a vehicle was being damaged or a long snarl caused due to slow movement of vehicles on this badly damaged stretch.
This had been causing delay to employees going to their offices and students going to theircolleges in Ramban, the district headquarters.
The alleged negligence on the part of companies responsible for maintenance in their respective areas as per the terms of contract was the main reason for the neglect.
Constant clouds of dust rising from the road had badly affected the business and health of shopkeepers and ‘dhaba’ owners on the roadside.
Kartar Chand, owner of Shiva Dhaba at Nashri, said one of his employees, Balwant Raj (18), had contracted tuberculosis due to dust and was at the Chest Diseases Hospital in Jammu.
The shopkeepers who had suffered dislocation due to widening of the highway had for long been awaiting payment of compensation.
Due to the non-payment of compensation, they were being compelled to keep running their business there and suffer loss of health and money.
Potholed highway turns a nightmare for commuters
