Srinagar, May 11 : As Srinagar-Jammu National Highway remained closed for three days, the Kashmir would not have suffered heavy losses had the government made it all weather road.
The Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, the only all-weather road connecting Kashmir valley with the rest of the world remained closed since Wednesday. However, the traffic was partially restored on Saturday. But during last three days, the Kashmir suffered heavy losses as there were hundreds of trucks laden with live stock and fruits.
“A lot of live stock died for last few days and fruits perished. Now the traffic has been restored after cleared the road from landslides,” a traffic official told.
He said around 2000 vehicles including trucks laden with live stock other necessities were stranded. “The stranded vehicles are allowed to ply on the highway,” the official added.
The Valley is incurring heavy losses due to closure of the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway, the only road connecting region with rest of the world.
The Srinagar-Jammu national highway, the only road link to outside world, gets often closed. To upgrade Jammu-Srinagar road into four lanes for all weather route, the authorities started a project several years ago and the project was to be completed in 2013 and later its deadline was extended to December 2014.
However, the project has missed several deadlines due to “lackadaisical” approach of the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI).
Official sources said the project was divided into six sub-projects, widening of Srinagar-Qazigund road (68-Kms), Qazigund-Banihal (16-Kms), Banihal-Ramban (36-Kms), Ramban-Udhampur (43-Kms), Chenani –Nashri (12-Kms), Jammu-Udhampur (65-Kms).
Sources said that the failure in completion of land acquisition process was the main reason behind the delay in the completion of the project.“There were various reasons behind the delay in the completion of the project. Primarily the state government was sluggish in completing the land acquisition process. Further there were certain issues at the administrative level as well,” they said. (KNS)
