Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 21: The Director General of Border Roads Organisation today called on Governor N N Vohra in Srinagar and briefed him about the status of construction and maintenance of various road projects in the State.
Accompanied by Chief Engineer, Beacon, Brigadier A K Das, DG BRO Lt Gen R M Mittal met the Governor at Raj Bhavan this evening in summer capital of the State and discussed issues relating to improvement of traffic flow on roads leading to the entry points of the two routes to the holy cave shrine of Amarnath ji in south Kashmir Himalayas, an official spokesman said.
“During their meeting, Lt Gen Mittal briefed the Governor about the latest status of construction and maintenance of various road projects being executed by the BRO to provide sustained connectivity, particularly to serve the remote areas in the State,” the spokesman said.
He said the Governor stressed the vital importance of the various road building projects being completed within the envisaged time frames and, side by side, the important road networks being well maintained throughout the year.
“In this context, the Governor and DG BRO, discussed issues relating to improvement of traffic flows on roads leading to the entry points of the two routes to the Shri Amarnathji Yatra (scheduled to start on July 2),” the spokesman said.
Sources said the BRO has decided to improve Sonamarg-Baltal road condition with patch work so that the Amarnath Yatra vehicles could proceed smoothly. Presently, condition of the road is not good and it could see traffic jams if it was not improved immediately.
Sources said the Governor, who also happens to be the Chairman of Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB), wanted the BRO to maintain Jammu-Srinagar National Highway and other concerned roads to the best possible extent so that the people travelling from Jammu to Srinagar including the pilgrims didn’t face hardships.
It may be mentioned here that annual Amarnath yatra is starting this year on July 2 and will conclude on August 29.
The BRO was also trying to improve condition of 300 kilometers long Jammu-Srinagar National Highway and for the purpose traffic had been suspended on the road today from both sides. At several places, the highway has turned into bad condition due to unprecedented rains last year, which triggered landslides and washed away road at many places.
The BRO was engaged in repair work of the road.
Meanwhile, the DG BRO also called on Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed in Srinagar this afternoon and discussed various measures being taken by BRO to carry out repairs on National Highways and other vital roads looked after by it.
This followed their earlier meeting at New Delhi on May 4, during which the Chief Minister had highlighted the need for carrying out urgent repairs of NH I-A.
During the meeting, Mufti Sayeed stressed upon the need for repairing all strategic roads, so that the people who face extreme hardships are provided immediate sigh of relief. He said improvement in roads will also facilitate tourists and pilgrims during the ensuing Amarnath Yatra.
On the issue of expediting work on Srinagar-Anantnag road stretch on National Highway 1-A, Mufti Sayeed stressed upon BRO to maintain the road, which is in a critical condition. The stretch presently falls in the jurisdiction of NHAI and due to slow pace of work commuters have to face lot of problems on a day-to-day basis.
Referring to the repairs of Srinagar-Qazigund stretch, Minister for Public Works said the road length is presently being repaired by Public Works Department out of its own resources at a cost of Rs.14 crore to make it roadworthy. He, however, said the BRO will have to take over the road, till the four-lanning of the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway is completed.
The Chief Minister emphasized that till proposed widening of existing Jammu-Srinagar National Highway is fully completed, the State needs proper maintenance of alternate Mughal Road link to ensure that the Valley is not cut off if National Highway 1-A gets blocked.
Sayeed discussed with DG BRO the issue of making Sonamarg Bypass functional, thus easing congestion on the existing road and facilitating movement of people particularly tourists. The DG BRO assured that the matter will be taken up on priority.
The DG BRO also briefed Mufti Sayeed about the present status on construction of Z-Morh Tunnel, which will provide all-weather Srinagar-Kargil-Leh connectivity. He said work on 6.5 km-long tunnel will commence shortly.
Mittal informed the Chief Minister that Sopore bridge is nearing completion and will be commissioned in the next few days. He said after the last slab reinforcement and earth filling of the approach roads, the bridge, which has missed several deadlines, will be thrown open for vehicular traffic.
Keeping in view the significance of roads in providing alternate connectivity, the Chief Minister said he will take up with the Union Ministry of Road Transport & National Highways the matter of entrusting BRO with the responsibility of maintaining all National Highways and vital roads in J&K.
The Chief Minister directed Commissioner / Secretary, Public Works, to pursue with Union Ministry of Road Transport & National Highways the issue of transferring Batote-Kishtwar-Sinthan Road to BRO. He also called upon BRO to immediately start repairs on Achabal-Sinthan Road, which is presently being looked after by BRO.
Once entrusted with maintaining Anantnag-Sinthan-Kishtwar-Batote Road, BRO will be able to provide yet another strategic link that connects Jammu with Kashmir valley.
The Chief Minister said he will also take up with the Union Government the issue of transfer of strategic Baramulla-Uri Road to BRO so that it can be double- lanned.
Mufti Sayeed, during the tour of Uri last week, had announced double-lanning of Baramulla-Uri Road, keeping in view its strategic importance and tourism potential.
The Chief Minister also stressed upon BRO to put a proper maintenance grid in place for carrying out repairs of all roads, including the National Highways.
The DG BRO assured the Chief Minister that with active support of the State Government, all roads falling within its jurisdiction will be maintained on priority. He said he inspected several sites during his visit to J&K and issued directions for expediting ongoing works.
Mufti Sayeed was also informed about completion of work by BRO on Parimpora-Narbal road as well as four-lanning of 7-km stretch between Seer and Pahalgam.
On the issue of obtaining NOCs for Dhar-Mahanpur and Kangan-Barnoi roads, the Chief Minister asked Commissioner / Secretary, Public Works, to take up the matter with the concerned departments.
He also raised the issue of prioritizing Bhaderwah-Bani-Basohli-Sarthal, Ramban-Rajouri (via Mahore), Bandipora-Gurez, Handwara-Bangus and Loran-Basamgali-Tangmarg Roads so that inter-district connectivity is improved in the State.
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