Posing great risk to health

15/05/2019

In sheer violation of the contract agreement, executing agency engaged by the National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) on 4- laning of NH-144A, from Jammu to Akhnoor, has been posing great risk to the health and lives of the general public and thousands of road users.Under the nose of Divisional and District Administration Jammu, this violation is going on for the last about one year but the officers at the helm of affairs seem to be least bothered about the public plight. They might have used this road on several occasions, especially from Shakti Nagar Puli to Muthi, Akhnoor Road or from Paloura Top, near Best Price Shopping Mall via AG Office to Shakti Nagar Puli crossing, but hardly acted despite the fact that the road on which the NHIDCL and SP Singla Constructions Pvt Ltd have started 4-laning work (on NH144A) with the cost of Rs 917 crores, have virtually failed to provide a viable service road. This nearly 3 kilometers road stretch has been dug out at many places by machines and has turned bumpy and dusty. On other side of Ranbir Canal, the entire traffic of Poonch, Rajouri and Akhnoor side, moving to Jammu has been diverted to the narrow road from Paloura Top to AG Office and Shakti Nagar Puli up to Canal Head. The road condition has deteriorated and turned pathetic and critical. It has virtually turned into a 'Khud'. The broken road surface, large potholes and dust in the entire area has added to the woes of the people of the localities along these road and the road users. This dust has turned big health hazard for the public, exposing them to lungs and allergy related problems.
Ironically, the provision of providing service roads on both the sides, is the part of agreement. But this agency has failed to provide the service road to the users who pay road tax, token tax, registration fee of vehicle, driving license fee etc to the Government. Then depriving the people of their legitimate right by the Government, is certainly an offence. But the authorities at the helm of affairs have yet to awake from the deep slumber. 4-laning of Jammu-Akhnoor Highway work was allotted to SP Singla Constructions Pvt Ltd. The contract of first 5.5 kms stretch stood allotted about eight months ago and two years time limit has been given. The contract for the remaining road has also been secured by the same company but final sanction has been awaited due to some technical reasons. This has also caused delay at the remaining part of the road. The work on this project is going on at snail's pace and till now hardly 20 % work has been executed. They have to construct flyover from Shakti Nagar Pulli crossing up to next 5.5 kms. It is believed that executing agency would fail to meet the targeted time limit assigned by the Government. At many places, the work has been abandoned after some digging work.

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