Gadkari meets NHAI officials, BJP leaders
Facility of monthly passes for locals
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 24: Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways (MORTH) Nitin Gadkari today held two-round of talks with BJP leaders from J&K and officials of the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) on suspension of Sarore Toll Plaza, in New Delhi.
Though there was no immediate relief for the people, Gadkari is reported to have assured the BJP leaders that he will depute a high-level team of the NHAI to the National Highway including Sarore to look into the issue and follow up action will be taken based on the recommendations.
Meanwhile, Chief Secretary Dr Arun Kumar Mehta this evening reviewed condition of road connectivity along NH-44 from Jammu to Kathua with senior functionaries of NHAI and UT Government. He deliberated upon immediate steps required for improving road condition.
On Sarore Toll Plaza, the NHAI officials assured the Chief Secretary that facility of monthly passes at Rs 300 to commuters residing within 20 kilometres of Toll Plaza and paid commercial monthly passes for Rs 2700 allowing 50 trips shall be provided to everyone in a hassle free manner for convenience of the public in general.
The Chief Secretary directed Divisional Commissioner, RO (NHAI) and Deputy Commissioner(s) concerned to undertake a joint visit along the NH-44 tomorrow to assess the present condition of the road connectivity along the NH-44 from Jammu to Lakhanpur and suggest immediate necessary measures to alleviate the issues being faced by the commuters and to reduce the travel time. Based on the assessment made during the visit, the matter shall again be reviewed tomorrow.
The review meeting was attended by Chairperson, NHAI Santosh Kumar Yadav, Principal Secretary PW(R&B) Department, Shailendra Kumar, ADGP Jammu Mukesh Singh, Divisional Commissioner Jammu, Ramesh Kumar, Deputy Commissioners, Samba/Kathua, Regional Officer, NHAI and other senior officers of UT and NHAI.
The Chairperson NHAI briefed the senior officers about ongoing works on the National Highway-44, the current status of road connectivity from Jammu to Kathua, efforts being made to reduce the travel time from Jammu to Kathua and to restore the Tarnah bridge.
Thereafter, the Chief Secretary sought details of the stretches of the NH-44 which were majorly affected due to monsoon as also the ongoing works and reviewed the actions being taken to ease the travel of the commuters on these stretches.
On the issue of Tarnah bridge, it was acknowledged that the break-down of the bridge was natural calamity which has increased the travel time substantially. The Chief Secretary was assured by NHAI that work to restore the bridge was going on war-footing basis despite the challenges being posed by the frequent flash-floods.
In this regard, the Chief Secretary directed NHAI to ensure that the causeway is ready for LMV traffic within a week’s time.
On the issue of poor condition of road being reported along certain stretches, the Chief Secretary asked NHAI to ensure that all service roads are black-topped, made pot-hole free within a week’s time so as to provide smooth alternate connectivity to the commuters in view of the ongoing works.
Meanwhile, Union Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) Dr Jitendra Singh couldn’t attend the meeting called by Nitin Gadkari in New Delhi due to his preoccupation with Chandrayaan-3 Mission while BJP UT chief Ravinder Raina was unable to reach New Delhi in time because of cancellation of flight.
However, BJP Lok Sabha member from Jammu-Poonch Jugal Kishore Sharma and former Ministers DK Manyal and Chander Prakash Ganga are reported to have attended the meeting among others.
Initially, as per the BJP leaders, Gadkari met party leaders from Jammu and Kashmir in his office for half an hour and listened to their issues. Later, he held another meeting with the BJP leaders in the presence of NHAI officials.
The BJP leaders are reported to have demanded suspension of Sarore Toll Plaza pending reconstruction of Tarnah bridge on Jammu-Pathankot National Highway which was washed away in heavy floods.
“No immediate decision was taken on suspension of Sarore Toll Plaza,” they said, adding the Union Minister assured that a high-level team of the NHAI will examine the National Highway right from Lakhanpur to Sarore within next three days and take a decision.
The NHAI team is also expected to visit Tarnah bridge in Kathua district which was washed away in flash floods cutting off vital links on the highway and presently traffic is being diverted from an alternate road in rural areas causing lot of inconvenience to commuters including increase in travel distance and timing and sometimes leading to heavy jams.
Various political parties, social and religious organizations have been agitating against continuation of Sarore Toll Plaza despite washing away of Tarnah bridge.
Few days back, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha had stated that he had spoken to the National Highways Authority of India chairman and that their team will shortly visit Sarore Toll Plaza to take a decision.
As per the BJP leaders, there were arguments between two BJP leaders and an official of the NHAI during the meeting on closure of Toll Plaza. However, there was no official statement either by the Highways Authority or by the BJP leaders on the meeting.
Sources, however, said that the NHAI team will submit its report to Nitin Gadkari after visiting Jammu.
The BJP leaders, as per the insiders, have been pressing hard upon the Union Road Transport Minister to order suspension of Sarore Toll Plaza till restoration of Tarnah bridge as it has been turning out to be a demand in almost all parts of the region.
The BJP leaders are understood to have brought the issue to the notice of the party high command as well.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
