HC pulls up govt for failing to repair highway

The Jammu and Kashmir high court has slammed the state government for failing to repair Srinagar-Qazigund highway and has set a deadline of 10 days to make the road travel worthy.
While hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) of Civil Society Tral through Advocate G N Shaheen, a division bench comprising, Justice Muzaffar Hussain Attar and Justice Ali Muhammad Magrey, expressed dismay over the dilapidated condition of the road.
Taking a dig at the state bureaucracy, the bench observed that many flyovers can be constructed by the ill-gotten property which these bureaucrats have accumulated over the years. “What will you do with so much property? Your progeny will get wasted by this. Work for the welfare for people,” the bench observed with Chief Engineer R&B present in the court.
The bench further observed that even as Shimla (Himachal Pradesh) has more rainy seasons than Kashmir, “why our roads are damaged every now and then. Shimla has very good roads”.
“See Jammu-Udhampur road. It is more like expressway but here roads are in bad shape,” the bench said while addressing the Chief Engineer, adding, “Don’t you travel on these roads?”
Hearing the counsel for the petitioners, the bench said the distance which otherwise would be covered in one-and-a-half hour takes 5-6 hours because of the bad road condition.
Chief Manager and Vice President RAMKY Infrastructure Limited –the company responsible for constructing the road- gave an undertaking before the court that if weather permits the highway will be restored and made operational so as to enable the commuters to have convenient and hassle-free travel.
On behalf of state, Advocate General R A Jan said they taken serious steps to make the road better for commuters. He said the grievances projected in the petition would be addressed.
Taking cognizance of the frequent traffic jams on the highway, the court directed Traffic Department to devise a method for avoiding traffic jams on the highway, particularly from Qazigund to Srinagar. The court also exempted Chief Engineer (R&B) from his personal appearance on next date of hearing.