Frequent traffic disruptions routine in Ramban
HCC avoids urgent protection work, IG Traffic blames Company
Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, Apr 26: The Jammu-Srinagar National Highway has virtually been converted into a ‘death-trap’ as after launching 4-laning work on this highway by the executing agencies- Hindustan Constructions Company (HCC) and Gammon India Limited, especially between Nashri Tunnel, Ramban and Banihal, this highway has become more dangerous to travel.
Nine deaths just during past six months and injuries to over two dozen people in Ramban district on this highway, just due to falling of boulders and shooting stones, is an eye opener for the Government and the agencies engaged in executing 4-laning work in this mountainous region. But despite this all, no body has taken much pains for the public sufferings and extensive damage cause to the life and property of the people.
One thinks twice or thrice when he/ she intends to undertake a road journey from Jammu to Srinagar. When he starts from the either side, he/ she thinks whether he/ she would see the family and dear ones or become highway casualty due to shooting stones and boulders coming down from the hills regularly in Ramban sector. The road has turned so dangerous these days that one avoids to take up road journey. This has happened only after the HCC started work between Ramban and Banihal section.
Official sources revealed that for the road widening work, the executing agency (HCC) has engaged a large number of machines on 36 kms road stretch, allotted to it from Ramban to Banihal for the estimated cost of Rs 1700 crores. Even the rocks are blasted by using explosives.
With this activity, the soil has become loose and the falling of boulders, landslides, shooting of stones at many places has become routine affairs. As the agency NHIA or HCC/Gammon have not taken desired safety measures and performed much needed protection works, using highly expertise manpower, the general public has been left to suffer on the highway. This has resulted into many deaths and injuries to the road users during last one year.
Despite the instructions from the District Magistrate Ramban, Divisional Commissioner Jammu and the Inspector General of Police, Traffic (J&K), no much safety measures have been taken by the executing agencies from Nashri Tunnel up to Ramban and Banihal. No side protection walls, strong steel grills/ steel nets etc have been raised to the vulnerable places for the safety of the vehicles and the passengers passing through dangerous/ sliding zones in this sector.
For the last about one week, this highway has remained disrupted for movement of traffic for about 6 to 9 hours a day. But since July Ist, 2018, the people have faced worst situation in this sector. The regular long traffic jams, have made life of people/ road users miserable these days. At least nine people have lost their lives and over two dozen were injured just during last six months in this sector.
During November, just two days before Diwali, three persons along with truck came under landslides near Ramsu and bodies were recovered after seven days. Two more dead bodies including that of jawan going on leave to his home were recovered under the debris during December near Marog . A nomad was killed after a boulder fell on a Tata Mobile vehicle at Monkey Morh just three days back. Two casualties took place at Mom Passi in Ramsu area recently. Three separate incidents took place at Nachlana, Maggarkote and Anokhi Fall recently. About half a dozen vehicles were damaged during this period.
Marog, Mom Passi, Anokhi Fall, Battery Chashma, Monkey Morh and Panthyal have turned virtual death traps as maximum such incidents took place there. So far about five machines/ JCBs have been damaged due to falling of boulders and three operators were also injured in these incidents. This has also become very risky to carry out road clearance work on this highway. Moreover, movement of vehicles during night time is highly risky and an open invitation to possible death, the sources maintained.
IGP Traffic J&K, Alok Kumar when contacted said he, Divisional Commissioner Jammu and DC Ramban have taken up the issue with the top representatives of the HCC and Gammon India Ltd besides Project Director of National Highway Authority of India, looking after this sector. He said road clearance has become a very tough task these days. No doubt maximum landslides take place during rains but these days, falling of boulders/ shooting stones have been taking place even when there is no rain at all.
Replying to a question, Kumar said in fact, with the road widening work, this problem has aggravated. There seems to be lack of expertise on the part of HCC. It seems Geological expects and high-tech expertise to undertake works under such tough terrain and situation, has been overlooked by the executing agency. It has been learnt that at some places, the work has been sublet to the local contractors with no expertise or experience. The lack of supervision by experts has also invited more troubles. It has become horrible to take on journey on this road stretch, which is full of high risk. He along with Traffic men and regular cops are seen always busy round the clock to clear the vehicles in this sector.
Deputy Commissioner, Ramban, Showkat Aijaz Bhat when contacted said that he has formulated a monitoring committee headed by Additional Deputy Commissioner Ramban. The Committee has been regularly holding meetings with the representatives of HCC and Gammon India Limited and NHAI officials. Bhat said he himself also convened a meeting recently and directed the company officials to take up all the safety measures and ensure protection work as per contract agreement. They have been told that action as per powers vested with him as District Magistrate would be taken in case of any violation.
The DC said it is also the responsibility of the Project Director, National Highway Authority of India to monitor the ongoing work and issue instructions to the companies for taking up necessary protection work and much needed safety measures and ensure smooth flow of traffic by providing clear road. He said instructions have been issued to the Gammon and HCC engineers to take up black topping work immediately on the area where widening work has been completed. Gammon has cleared about 15 kms of area so far. Bhat said it is also fact that rains during July- August and even during winter months this year brought massive destruction. This area of the Highway is land- sliding prone since long. Panthyal and Battery Chashma are the old landsliding zones. Moreover, there is no much scope of making service roads or carve out larger space for movement of safe traffic as the steep mountains do not allow to carry out safe work. The topography of the area is very challenging to take up road construction work, this is also fact, the Deputy Commissioner maintained.
Manohar Sharma, a senior representative from HCC when contacted said NHAI has allotted contract worth Rs 1700 crores to them to construct road from Ramban town up to outskirts of Banihal. This 36 kms road stretch has to be completed within the given time frame. But, the regular landslides, falling of boulders and shooting stones on this stretch has become a cause of headache for the company. He said the company would certainly jump the deadline as when an area is cleared of land slides, again other slide falls and the pace of work has been badly affected. He said due to topography and kind of loose rocks in this sector, this problem has been taking place. It has added to the worries of the company officials.
Replying to another question, Manohar said from Nashri to Ramban, where Gammon has been working, there is no much problem on that stretch. But the road widening between Ramban and Ramsu and Banihal has become a great challenge.
” The company would certainly go into huge losses as the regular landslides has hit the progress. The company has taken up some protection work like raising concrete base and walls/ strong steel grills etc but that too, were damaged many times due to fall of large boulders. Moreover, on steep mountains, there is no much scope of such safety measures or making much space for movement of vehicles. The company has all expertise and good team of geologists and senior engineers, consultants, having experience of more than 30 t0 35 years, but it has become great challenge to initiate work on this tough terrain, the HCC officer added.
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