Mohammad Farooq Wani
Administrative callousness has always marred Kashmir due to its poor attention towards Kashmiris infrastructure and more importantly the National highway NH1 which is considered to be the lifeline for Kashmir. During winters NH1 often remains cutoff due to landslides and traffic jams. The closure of road during landslides and snow not only put the people of Kashmir to hardships but adversely affects the economic condition of the people as well despite having adequate funds.
The four laneing of Srinagar-Banihal has missed several deadlines which shows the callous approach of the executing agencies and the authorities associated with the project despite having adequate man and machine. Extending deadlines on this ambitious project is a cruel joke. The poor attention apropos to adequate infrastructure and roads in the state mostly in Kashmir has been the fate of Kashmiri people as no government could address on these core issues.
The state government has miserably failed to fulfill its commitment to complete the work on this road by extending the deadlines on many occasions. It is good introspection on the part of the CM in the recent days for showing keen interest in completing the projects within the stipulate time frame work including flyovers in Jammu and Srinagar cities currently under construction. She has categorically directed the executing agencies for completing the works on various projects without expecting any extension in the deadlines preferably about the four laneing of Srinagar to Banihal.
You cannot always take undue advantage or recourse of September 2014 floods or other issues in the state. You are this way making people hostile in such situations and any such dereliction in the discharge of work on various projects cannot ordinarily be taken as usual. The CM must pull up the delinquents who fail to deliver satisfactorily.
When the agencies could complete the four laneing from Udhampur before time that too on a mountainous and tough terrain, why cannot the 4 laneing from Srinagar to Banihal is completed with such pace though it has plain topography from Srinagar to Qazigund?
The NH1 project has already missed several deadlines which is a worrisome. Unless you act tough against the delinquents, situation will continue to remain same as before. The delay in execution has implication of extra burden on government exchequer due to inflation in the market.
Despite the fact that the center has earmarked a separate budget allocations for both the regions to promote road connectivity for safety measure of the people while traveling from Srinagar to Jammu which has taken so many precious lives due to accidents being the road narrow with sharp curves.
The work on the Srinagar-Banihal project was started in 2011 in both the regions from Jammu to Udhampur and from Srinagar to Banihal. The engineers, contractors and other associated staff did a good job on a tough and mountainous terrain just within a period of three years or so from Jammu to Udhampur with many beautiful tunnels and tall bridges coming though the sky high mountains that not only attracts the tourists but prompts the people of this side to take a ride on this beautiful road from Udhampur to Jammu.
Contrary to the fact that the belt from Srinagar to Qazigund has a plain topography but the road widening on this patch has taken more than six years and there seems no end for its completion as only 60 percent works as on date have been completed which is pathetic for the administration and the engineers of this side who work on snail’s pace on this project.
This is really disgusting for the administration for showing dismal performance. No tunnels are required to be erected or constructed from Srinagar to Qazigund being the plain area with no mountains or tough terrains. The patch in not a mountainous terrain like the terrain of Udhampur to Jammu where the engineers completed without asking for any extension in the deadline.
It is sad for the executing agencies involved this project for working on snail’s pace. This is what the people of Kashmir are subjected to face at the hands of politicians and the executing agencies and had the authorities acted tough against the delinquents the situation would not have been what it is today. It won’t be judicious to say that center has shown any disparity while keeping funds at the disposal of the state government.
The frequent traffic jams mostly from Srinagar to Qazigund road is the outcome of the poor execution and lack of interest or potential. One more project from Nashri to Chenani was started in 2012. It is nearing its completion and as announced by the central ministry for roads it is likely to be thrown open in July 2016 which will reduce the distance by 31 Kms from Srinagar to Jammu. This shows determination and work culture of the engineers and associated staff the way they made it in a magical way and it will be a big gift for the people of both the regions including lacks of tourists who will pass though this long tunnel while traveling from Jammu to Kashmir viz-a viz Srinagar to Jammu.
Hope the executing agencies and authorities without wasting time and money or to expect any extension in the deadline for completion and instead concentrate fully to complete the projects well on time that is only possible when they come out of slumber and the authorities make them accountable at all levels.
The government must also devise a mechanism to blacklist the delinquents and the erring officials and the executing agencies for any more delay.
Author can be mailed at hjfarooq@rediffmail.com
