NHAI team to visit J&K from Aug 29 – Sept 1
*Series of proposals to be discussed to end stalemate
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Aug 25: Before the visit of a high-level team of the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI), a series of points are under consideration of the NHAI and J&K administration to end stalemate on Sarore Toll Plaza as many political parties and organizations continue to protest demanding its suspension in view of damage caused to Tarnah bridge.
The NHAI team headed by Sudip Chaudhury, member (Project) will visit J&K from Aug 29 -September 21.
“It will inspect Tarnah bridge which was washed away in flash floods on August 29 and meet Chief Secretary Dr Arun Kumar Mehta and Principal Secretary PW(R&B) Shailendra Kumar on August 30 besides inspecting the highway.
It will renew other projects on August 31 and September 1.
Official sources told the Excelsior that an additional 20 percent discount to the vehicle operators is being proposed at Sarore Toll Plaza which will take total discount to 40 percent as 20 percent rebate is already being offered. However, a final call has to be taken by the NHAI team after taking assessment of prevailing situation on the highway and seeing conditions whether they necessitated offering of such a discount or something more.
An assessment of traffic movement on Jammu-Pathankot National highway crossing Sarore Toll Plaza revealed that only 38 percent vehicles belonged to the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh while rest are from outside the State and the authorities will also examine whether discount will be offered to all vehicles or only those belonging to the two Union Territories.
Asserting that there are nearly 1100 Toll Plazas functioning across the country, they said it is very difficult to close the Plazas as they have been outsourced for a year and such a decision results into litigations. However, offering discount is definitely a major option, they said.
On bad condition of the National Highway at some place, sources said the NHAI could undertake a drive to completely macadamize such parts of the road within a time period of seven to 10 days.
“This will improve condition of the National Highway to quite an extent,” the sources said.
On washing away of Tarnah bridge, they said, alternative temporary bridge will be ready in less than 20 days time as by that time Monsoon rains will also be over and the authorities will get time to lay the bridge which survives for long for Light Motor Vehicles and efforts will also be initiated for construction of the concrete bridge at the earliest.
As far as heavy traffic jams on alternate road being used by vehicles after washing away of Tarnah bridge is concerned, sources said the administration will deploy additional Traffic Police personnel there to ensure smooth movement of traffic without any jam.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
