Neeraj Rohmetra
Jammu, July 25: State Government officials in league with the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) have initiated the preliminary work for construction of Ring Road around Jammu city. While the total Capital Cost of the project is estimated to be around Rs 1100 crores, the approximate length of the proposed four/six lane Ring Road would be around 58 Kilometers.
Sources told EXCELSIOR that the Consultancy Services for preparation of Feasibility cum Design Report for the Construction of Standalone Ring Road/ Bypass road around the Jammu city had been assigned to Louis Berge Consulting Private Limited.
As per the Report prepared by the Consultants, “the preliminary study of the secondary data collected revealed that the western bypass shall start from Km 86 (Raya Morh) of NH-1A and end at Km 14.70 of Nagrota bypass realignment at NH-1A. Later, the proposed Ring Road would become part of the NH-1A.”, says the report prepared by the Consultants.
The Report added, “The length of the proposed bypass/Ring Road would be 57.80 Km. The terrain along the project is plain upto 46.50 Km and hilly from thereon till 57.8 Km. The Project road passes through tehsils of Samba, Jammu, R S Pura and Bishnah. The proposed road width is 60 meters in plain section and 45 meters in hill section.
Sources in NHAI also confirmed, “there will be eight major bridges and 101 minor bridges and 308 culverts in the project road. Besides, in the four-laning of the project road, two Fly-Overs, five vehicular underpasses and eight pedestrian underpasses have been proposed. The project road is crossing Nikki Tawi River and Wadi Tawi River and around 42 seasonal streams and nallahs”.
“While the capital cost of the project is Rs 1100 crores, the estimated cost for Resettlement and Rehabilitation of affected persons, utilities will cost nearly Rs 150 crores. The budget earmarked for environment management and monitoring is approximately Rs 6.5 crores”, sources added.
The project also proposed to have two Toll Plaza at different locations — one near Bishnah village and another one near Kangar village along the project road. About 55 private structures, seven utilities, one religious building and two Government structures are likely to be affected due to proposed bypass. Nearly 3300 families are likely to be affected with the project and they shall be compensated as per the NHAI Act, 1956.
While classifying the project as linear green field project, the report states that the Ring Road would touch 44 villages along or near project road, which included Dear Ghanotra, Rakh Badoi, Najwal, Ratnal, Avtar, Tinday, Nougran, Bansultan Anandpur, Mangu Chak, Lalyal, Kalian, Haripur Alora, Gandu Chak, Suhanjana, Bhagatpura Bazigar Basti, Chak Laldin, Shahpur, Tikri Rakwalan, Choana Chak, Ratanpur Paras Harmukand Flora, Karloop, Gujjar Basti Marh Bagh, kullain, Tokrian, Shakha Peer Jhafra Chak, Channu Chak, Pakhian Kantwala, Mishriwala (Sukka), Gurha Singhu Marjali, Kangar, Ambgrota, Bhalwar Tatani Talab, Khandwal Rakh, Nanal Palsa Chak.
“Before coming to any conclusion, the Consultancy Company had taken into consideration three alternative alignments based on proposed Master Plan for Jammu Development Authority (JDA) 2021”, says the report adding, “the project road is passing through Protected Forests (both sides) for approximately 6 Km length and approximately 9975 trees are likely to be affected due to the proposed project”.
The project also attracts the provision of the The Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 as two wild life sanctuaries (Nandani and Ramnagar) are located at around five Km distance from the project.
“The concerned agencies have also started the pre-construction investigation for the project like bore house, soil testing, etc. NHAI, which is the prime agency involved in project has assured that traffic management shall be provided for uninterrupted flow of traffic while project work is on. Further, during construction, temporary road shall be developed and maintained by the contractor for transportation of construction material”, says the report.
Commenting on benefits, which are likely to be accrued to people, the documents says, “the proposed project will bring economic development in the region. More road side business activities will come up and it will support other developmental activities by improved accessibility”.
It is pertinent to mention that Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah on September 25, 2012 had given nod for the construction of Srinagar and Jammu Ring Road to decongest traffic and provide alternate communication for commuters at a high level joint meeting with NHAI and State R&B Department.
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel