Draw up plan for road repairs in Valley: HC tells R&B Dept

Seeks response from NHAI on Srinagar-Sopore-Baramulla highway

The J&K High Court has directed the Roads and Buildings (R&B) Department, which is responsible for the upkeep and upgrade of several important roads and highways across Kashmir, to draw up a comprehensive plan for all districts, so that the roads are dug up for the laying of utility services and macadamisation is done in a coordinated manner.
These directions were issued today by a division bench of the High Court, which is hearing a PIL on highways in Kashmir.
The directions to the R&B Department followed a report by the Court Commissioner in which it has been pointed out that even after the macadamisation of the Srinagar-Qazigund stretch of the national highway was undertaken by one agency, the same was immediately dug up by the local authorities as the coordination between the authorities, particularly the R&B and the NHAI is lacking.
“In this context, we direct the R&B Department to draw up a plan so that the same is followed in every district, where roads are to be dug up for utility services or for other reasons. So that whatever work is to be done, be done prior to the making of the road,” the High Court said in its orders today while directing the R&B Chief Engineer to file a status report in this regard by next date.
As per the Court Commissioner’s report, almost 52 km of the Srinagar-Qazigund stretch is under the NHAI while other 16 km is under the R&B Department.
Coming to the Srinagar-Sopore-Baramulla stretch of the national highway, the High Court has sought a response of the R&B, NHAI and Border Roads Organisation to the Court Commissioner’s report by next date, adding that wherever action was necessary, the same shall be taken immediately for filling of potholes and other things.
“The work done shall be submitted with photographic evidence,” the court said.

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