Govt sitting on Rs 549.64 Cr road restoration project: R&B CE tells Court
Roads and Buildings Department has forwarded a detailed project worth Rs 549.64 crore to government for permanent restoration of dilapidated roads in Valley due to floods, but authorities have received not a single in this regard.
This was stated by Chief Engineer R&B Satish Razdan in an affidavit filed before High Court on Friday. Razdan informed the court that 1696.06 kilometers in Valley were badly damaged out of total road network of 13898.37 kilometers.He said the department earlier required only Rs 327.16 crores but the abnormal weather and excessive snowfall further damaged the road network, thereby requiring additional amount of Rs. 222.48 crores for permanent restoration of damaged roads.
Razdan expressed need for immediate action for the restoration of roads as the weather condition in Valley has improved.
In the affidavit, Chief Engineer also said the restoration of roads in cities and towns would be taken on priority.
“The permanent restoration is proposed to be achieved by providing 100 mm thick wet mix macadam in ditches, pot holes and weak sections to be topped with a layer of 75/50 mm thick bituminous macadam and finally to be covered by 25 mm thick Semi dense wearing court,” he said in his affidavit.
Razdan informed the court that a comprehensive plan for restoration of roads in cities and towns have also been submitted to the government for permanent restoration and up-gradation of 025.24 Kms at a cost of Rs 385.00 crores.
Earlier, Inspector General of Police (Traffic) Joginer Pal Singh informed the court that majorly the traffic jams in Valley was due to the dilapidated condition of roads damaged during the floods.
Pal said 137 additional cops have been deployed for proper regulation of the traffic “who would be strictly enforcing the traffic rules” to avoid frequent jams.
High Court had asked these departments to inform the court about the progress of the restoration of roads in the Valley and about the frequent traffic jams on roads. The directions were passed by court while hearing a PIL filled by Civil Society Tral.
