*Only superficial repairs even after CS, PWD Secy’s concern
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Nov 6: Blatantly flouting the provisions of the contract agreement right under the nose of the concerned authorities of Jammu and Kashmir Government, Hindustan Construction Com-pany (HCC) entrusted with the task of four-laning of Jammu-Srinagar National Highway in Ramban district is paying scant attention towards the maintenance of existing stretch thereby putting the lives of thousands of commuters to grave risk every day.
The intensity of non-seriousness can be gauged from the fact that only superficial repairs have been carried out even after initiation of criminal proceedings by the district administration several months back.
Official sources told EXCELSIOR that the work of four laning of Jammu-Srinagar National Highway from milestone of 150 kilometers to milestone of 187 kilometer has been allotted to Hindustan Constr-uction Company under the conditions that it also has to properly maintain the existing stretch of the National Highway 1A.
However, even after repeated warnings and instructions the company has not properly maintained the road, which is marred by potholes, choked drainage system, lack of crash barriers, broken patches and slippage etc. Due to dilapidated condition of the vast section of the National Highway in Ramban district numerous innocent lives have been lost in the tragic accidents between 150 kilometer and 187 kilometer milestone, sources said.
“Not only the non-serious approach of the Hindustan Construction Company even the district administration is responsible for the worst condition of the highway in Ramban as no penal action has been taken against the company till date despite the fact that condition of highway is worst than any road in remote areas of the State”, sources further said.
After waking up from the deep slumber, the district administration in the month of May this year initiated criminal proceedings against Hindustan Construction Company for failing to properly maintain the National Highway from Ramban to Banihal on the ground that worst condition of highway was contributing to increase in road accidents.
Through the criminal proceedings it was brought to the notice of Hindustan Construc-tion Company that Additional Deputy Commissioner Ramban and Assistant Regional Transport Officer Ramban have reported about worst condition of the National Highway at vulnerable locations like Marog, Battery Chashma, Anokhi Fall, Digdole, Panthyal, Gangroo, Nachilana and Sherbibi.
By exercising powers vested with him, the District Magistrate directed the Hindustan Construction Company to show cause for blatant disobedience of “maintenance clause” of the contract agreement and putting the lives of commuters to danger due to its careless and irresponsible way of working on the National Highway stretch from Ramban to Banihal.
In order to avoid action under the criminal proceedings, the company started maintenance work on some areas of the highway but abandoned the same thereafter, which is evident from the continuous dilapidated condition of all the spots pointed out by the District Magistrate in the notice served in the month of May, sources said, adding due to ongoing widening work and lack of focus on maintenance aspect the existing stretch of the highway has shrunk up to large extent thereby leading to frequent traffic jams.
Stating that condition of the highway from 150 kilometer to 187 kilometer is deteriorating day by day, sources said, “in the absence of maintenance whether this stretch of the highway will be able to remain open during the approaching winter remains a million dollar question”, adding “it is a matter of serious concern that the district administration instead of initiating action against the company has remained content with the superficial repairs during the past several months”.
Disclosing that even Chief Secretary, B R Sharma and Commissioner/Secretary to Government, Public Works Department, Rohit Kansal expressed concern over the continuous deplorable condition of the highway in Ramban district during their recent visit to the area, sources said, “Chief Secretary and PWD Secretary even conveyed to the officers of the Hindustan Construction Company that they found the National Highway worst than any road in rural area of the State and accordingly issued directions for its proper maintenance in a shortest possible time”.
“However, keeping in view the present pace of maintenance work, it seems that the condition of National Highway in Ramban district will not improve till the onset of severe winter, when blacktopping becomes impossible”, sources said.
When contacted, an officer of the district administration confirmed slackness of the Hindustan Construction Com-pany in maintenance of the existing stretch of National Highway in Ramban district. “I think the officers of the company don’t have any fear of being taken to task”, he remarked.
However, there was no response from the Deputy Commissioner Ramban Moha-mmad Aijaz despite repeated calls on his cellular phone to ascertain whether any strict action has been taken against the company for continuous slackness in maintenance of the highway.
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