Excelsior Correspondent
KATHUA, Apr 2: Dayala Chak-Dinga Amb-Chhallan road, which connects Jammu-Pathankote National Highway and the Dhar-Mahanpur-Udhampur road, has turned out to be an ‘orphan baby’ of the State and the Central Government.
Worst is the condition of this 25 kms long road stretch, as hardly any repair/ maintenance work has been initiated on this important link by the State R&B Department or the Central GREF authorities in last over four years. At many places this road which leads to Mata Sukrala Devi pilgrimage and important Billawar town and other areas falling in the constituency of Minister of State for Cooperatives and Finance, Dr Manohar Lal Sharma, has virtually turned into a `Khud’.
For many years, this road remained victim to the apathy of GREF and the R&B authorities as no one was taking over the responsibility to maintain it. But now, when GREF has refused to take over the road, it becomes the responsibility of the State R&B Department to initiate repair work on this otherwise neglected road. Large potholes have surfaced at many places and the vehicles suffer damage despite the fact that Government charge full road tax from them and in turn force the vehicles to use broken and un manned road. It takes double the time to cover this 25 km horrible distance to the vehicles as they can not move with speed limit of even 20-25 kms per hour. This is said to be the shortest route for the trucks plying between Delhi-Punjab-Srinagar. Massive heavy traffic is now using this road. The worst condition of road has also become the cause of accidents.
Chief Engineer R&B, Jammu Hamid Sheikh when contacted said, due to plying of heavy traffic/ load carriers on this road, the condition has further worsened. He claimed that the road is not designed for the plying of heavy traffic and need immediate upgradation. Moreover, R&B has no sufficient funds at its disposal for initiate maintenance. Earlier, this road was to be taken over by the GREF but it was decided that it would remain with the State R&B authorities. Unless this road is funded under CRF or PM’s package, its up-gradation or improvement is not possible as per the required specifications.
MoS Finance and Cooperatives, Dr Manohal Lal claimed that under CRF, a Rs 18 crore project has been prepared for Dinga Amb-Chhala road stretch of 15 kms. It has been sent to Delhi by the concerned department. As and when the sanction is accorded the work would start on the road. He admitted that condition of this road was worst and it has been causing extensive damage to the vehicles plying on it.
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