Excelsior Correspondent
SAMBA, Mar 20: Residents of Jatwal area today blocked the Jammu-Pathankot National Highway, demanding the construction of a flyover.
The protest, which lasted for about two hours, was largely led by women who raised slogans against the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI).
The protesters set up a tent on the highway and warned that they would continue the sit-in and even go on a hunger strike if their demands were not met.
The main issue raised by the protesters was the inconvenience caused due to the ongoing work on the Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway.
They called for a flyover to be built at the main chowk in Jatwal to ease commuting and prevent losses to local shopkeepers.
The demand for a flyover has been ongoing for years, with previous protests resulting in the NHAI’s provision of 23-feet wide and 11-feet high underpass, which the locals were not satisfied with.
In order to pacify the protestors, including women, Additional Deputy Commissioner Jagdish Singh intervened, assuring the protesters that discussions would take place with the authorities.
On Friday, Deputy Commissioner Samba, Rajesh Sharma and NHAI officials are expected to meet with the locals to discuss a way forward.
Following the protest, traffic was heavily delayed, but the situation was brought under control by traffic police.
Notable figures in the protest included former Sarpanch Gangeshwar Sharma, Jagg Ram Sharma, Ajit Khajuria, Saurav Sharma, Raju Sharma, Kavita Sharma, and Shobha Devi.
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