Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 1: A delegation of people, led by Rakesh Wazir, president of Hotel & Restaurant Association, Katra and general secretary Trikuta Valley Development Forum, called on Deputy Commissioner, Jammu, Simrandeep Singh and apprised him about the basic mandatory duties, not being performed by the National Highway Authority of India.
“The NHAI is bound to connect all roads and ways which got disconnected/ damaged due to the coming up of new highway, so that it remain in public use and are not encroached upon, monitoring of Toll plaza to avoid mismanagement and any overcharging there from public/pilgrims, all facilities to the people who are exempted under different categories including Ambulances, Security Personnel etc. requisite passes to the locals and thorough service lanes but it has been observed that the Highway authorities are deliberately ignoring all these mandatory obligations for their personnel gains,” he explained and lamented that people were compelled to make rounds to the offices of concerned authorities that are insensitive towards the duty.
Mr Wazir alleged that the erring officials were even ignoring the cases wherein proper written recommendations of the District administration are there. He also listed such cases, like proposed joining of old Highway and New Highway at Sakaiter from where ways to many villages go, way to Nandni Tunnel from Suketar side etc, which are still pending even after more than two years since completion of the Jammu-Udhampur National Highway.
Mr Wazir also alleged overcharging from pilgrims and tourists at toll post Ban and denial of passes to the locals
He requested DC Jammu for immediate action including lodging of FIRs in these cases for misleading the District administration. The Deputy Commissioner listened to the delegation patiently and assured appropriate action on his end.
The prominent among those, who accompanied the delegation, included Gardhari Lal, Madan Lal, Puran Chand, Soni Kumar and others.
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