‘Rs 24 cr fixed for highway repair, NHAI released Rs 1 cr’

Srinagar-Jammu highway would remain a challenge till its four-laning is fully completed, the J&K government said Wednesday.

It said Rs 24 crore had been fixed as revised cost for restoring critical stretches on the road but the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) has released only Rs 1 crore so far.

The government said the condition of the road is poor at some places due to frequent landslides and shooting stones triggered by continuous rains since September 2014. Replying to calling attention notice of MLA Banihal, Vikar Rasool Wani, the Minister for Public Works Syed Muhammad Altaf Bukhari—in a written reply—stated that bad condition of the highway was highlighted by the PWD and a joint inspection with the NHAI was conducted on March 1.

“On the basis of inspection, Rs 24.36 crore was fixed for restoration of critical stretches and other damages on the highway,” the reply read. The reply was also read out by Minister for Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution (CA&PD) Choudhary Zulfikar Ali on behalf of the PWD Minister.

He said highway problem will continue till its four-laning is completed. “Banihal to Ramban stretch is very vulnerable. The government has already taken the issue with the NHAI for early completion of four-laning,” the Minister said.

“The Banihal bypass and Qazigund-Srinagar section of highway has got extensively damaged at various locations especially at Barsoo, Lethpora, Pampore and Panthachowk.”

He said urgent restoration work of the road was taken up by the Border Roads Organisation to ensure its immediate ‘trafficability’.

“Due to absence of proper drainage, the critical stretches get submerged under accumulated surface run-off after every downpour. This renders the restoration futile,” he said.

The Minister said of total revised cost of Rs 24.36 crore, the NHAI has released of Rs 1 crore to PWD.