Mantalai-Latti Dudu-Basantgarh road in worst condition
Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, June 6: While the JKUT administration’s prime focus is on the development of tourism infrastructure and attract more and more tourists to the places of tourism potential and having scenic beauty, but the places of immense tourism potential like Latti, Dudu, Shivgalli and Basantgarh in district Udhampur have been totally neglected as the condition of the road in these areas is worst and despite the allotment of funds to the tune of Rs 25 crores by PDP-BJP Government about eight years ago and Rs 55 crores two and half years back, the completion of road work is nowhere in sight.
Due to the worst condition of roads, tourists do not prefer to visit these places having two- three water falls, large meadows at Manju Top, Shivgalli and a few other places and the pleasant weather. No doubt Government spent funds to the tune of over Rs 100 crores at Mantalai to establish world class Yoga Centre, but further development in Dudu and Basantgarh Sub Divisions has not been witnessed so far, despite having great tourism and Mountaineering potential on Seoj Dhar.
Click here to connect with us on WhatsApp
Official sources said that the then Minister for Roads and Buildings, Nayeem Akhtar had laid foundation stone for the upgradation of Mantalai-Latti (Sira) road with the cost of Rs 25 crores. Even after the passage of eight long years, this road could not be completed. It appears there is no accountability at all and the people at the helm of affairs do not bother much about completion targets and the progress of work by the concerned contractors.
Executive Engineer R&B, Chenani, Suresh Bharti said that for a stretch of 5 kms from Mantalai to Bup contract worth Rs 10 lakhs was sanctioned by the PWD to a contractor. He said due to delay in forest clearance, the work on the projects was delayed. Now, the clearance stands accorded.
Bharti further said that 4 kms of road stretch has been completed but maintenance work was not conducted by the contractor. On old rates, the contractor was not prepared to continue the work and the remaining work will be re-tendered, he claimed.
From Bup to Sira Morh near Latti, 20 kms work was allotted to another contractor under PMGSY for the cost of Rs 15 crores during that period. The road was though completed but due to non-maintenance of the road, its condition went on deteriorating. The road is full of patholes and large broken surfaces all over not only up to Latti but even beyond Dudu and Kirchi up to Shivgalli.
Official sources disclosed that another road project worth Rs 55 crores under PMGSY was sanctioned about two and half years ago from Sira Morh to Shivgalli (Top). Due to litigation between two contractors and making department as party, the work has been delayed. But the public is suffering badly. This road patch of nearly 32 kms is in worst condition. No one takes risk to travel through this road. After past three rainy seasons, no maintenance work was initiated over it. One who passes through this road, avoids to take risk again.
Not only this, the condition of road from Ramnagar Majori- Gandh Top and Basantgarh is also in worst condition except . about 7- km patch from Shivgalli to Basantgarh. The work has already been allotted but the contractor was not taking up the work due to the reason best known to the officers at the helm of affairs, the sources added.
A senior officer in the agency, however, said that work from Degree College Shivgalli to Basantgarh town was in progress. But he said work on project worth Rs 55 crores could not be started for the last more than two years due to litigation between two contractors having placed L-1 and L-2 during contract. They have now gone to the double bench of the J&K High Court. The Bench has given directions to the department to go for fresh tenders but has barred not to allot this work to any one till the disposal of the case. He said the concerned Xen has been asked to re-tender the work. For maintenance of the road, he said, the urgent work will be initiated by the concerned field staff shortly.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
