Long-Awaited Move Aims to Ease Traffic Congestion and Improve Travel Times
Srinagar: Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo Thursday set a deadline of June 10 for streamlining of riding surface and ensuring two-way traffic movement on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway given the upcoming Amarnath Yatra and fruit season in J&K.
Addressing a meeting held with all the concerned to take stock of road conditions and the current traffic scenario on the highway, the Chief Secretary said took cognisance of the time being taken, at present, by both the Light Motor Vehicles (LMVs) and Heavy Motor Vehicles (HMVs) to reach from one capital city to another.
He enquired about the condition of the road and the bottlenecks impeding the smooth movement of traffic. Dulloo took a detailed appraisal of nearly two dozen spots on this road where commuters are facing inconvenience in their journey. He impressed upon the NHAI, Regional Officer, Jammu, to take all possible measures to improve the riding surface of the road and ensure simultaneous two-way traffic on it by June 10 this year.
He asked for taking swift steps like enhancing the width of the carriageway besides black topping all the stretches where traffic snarls are occurring due to the rough surface of the road.
He enjoined the concerned divisional and district administration to identify all such spots which need immediate improvement so that no adversity is faced during the upcoming yatra and fruit season when thousands of fruit-laden trucks are bound to cross this highway daily.
The chief secretary asked about the causes behind the worsening condition of roads on the highway including Dalwas, Old Passi, Mehard, Marog (Ramban), Pratap Nallah (Digdol), Khooni Nallah, Panthyal, Magarkote, Higni, Lower Nachlana and Kishtwari Pather.
He also sought feedback from the Traffic Department, DCs, and NHAI about the measures to be taken in this regard and fixed a deadline for ironing out these difficulties in coordination with all stakeholders.
Dulloo asked the executing agencies to improve the Kathua-Katra stretch of the highway besides ensuring its blacktopping before June 20 without any further delay. He asked the Divisional Commissioner Jammu to personally monitor this work and submit a report daily on this account.
The chief secretary also took stock of the physical progress achieved on the construction of grade separators at Bemina, Sanat Nagar, and Nowgam crossings in Srinagar. He also reviewed the work done, so far, on the overhead railway crossing bridge near Bijbehara.
Dulloo asked for expediting work on all these projects for timely completion. In a presentation given by IG Traffic, Bhim Sen Tuti, a detailed analysis of the previous traffic halts along with their durations was highlighted.
The reasons for each such disruption were spotlighted and the cause of suspensions experienced this month was particularly brought to the fore. It was informed that the incessant rains on April 29 and 30 had eroded the loop of the old road at Magerkote which was used to pass traffic in one direction.
It was said that the construction work on fly-overs viaducts and tunnels at several locations is sometimes causing difficulty in the smooth passage of traffic. It was also revealed that the Traffic Department in collaboration with the district administration Ramban have identified 19 spots for taking certain corrective measures there.
The steps like road widening, compacting, and blacktopping at these stretches would be finished in the next couple of weeks by taking a dry day in between, the meeting was apprised. The meeting was informed that the road condition would be substantially upgraded by NHAI before the onset of fruit, and vegetable season and commencement of the Amarnath Yatra this year for the convenience of all the travellers going to and fro from Srinagar to Jammu and vice-versa.
Principal Secretary of the Agriculture Production Department, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir and Divisional Commissioner Jammu, IG Traffic, Secretary Transport, Secretary PWD, RO, NHAI besides Deputy Commissioners of Ramban, Udhampur, Kathua, and Samba attended the meeting while outstation officers participated virtually.
