*Surface Transport Ministry awaits DPR from NHAI
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Oct 10: Though nearly one year has lapsed since the sanctioning of two ring roads by the Union Ministry of Surface Transport and Highways yet no time-frame has so far been fixed for start of work on ground as land acquisition is still at its infancy in Jammu and survey for the same could not be conducted in Srinagar so far because of the prevailing unrest. In view of these impediments, the plan of easing traffic congestion in both the capital cities will remain a dream for unspecified period.
Official sources told EXCELSIOR that under Prime Minister’s Development Programme (PMDP) for Jammu and Kashmir, which was announced by the Union Government on November 7, 2015, a provision of Rs 3260 crore was kept for construction of two ring roads in Jammu and Srinagar in order to decongest these capital cities. Of this Rs 3260 crore provision, Rs 1860 crore was earmarked for ring road in Srinagar and Rs 1400 crore for ring road in Jammu.
Thereafter, the Union Ministry for Surface Transport and Highways during March-April this year conveyed to the State Government that Centre will bear 100 per cent construction cost of both the ring roads and 90 per cent cost of land acquisition and utility shifting while as 10 per cent expenditure will have to be borne by the State Government.
Since the ring roads are completely Centrally funded projects, the task of their construction was entrusted to National Highway Authority of India (NHAI), which is already carrying out widening of Jammu-Srinagar National Highway. While conveying funding pattern to the State Government, the Union Ministry of Surface Transport and Highways had stressed that concerned authorities of J&K should facilitate the NHAI in early completion of all the formalities particularly relating to land acquisition.
However, no time-frame has been fixed till date for start of work on ground as land acquisition process is still at very initial stage in respect of ring road in Jammu and the same has yet not been started in Srinagar because of unrest during the past some months, sources said, adding “even the authorities of the National Highway Authority of India are not in a position to specify when they would be able to start the work as besides land acquisition other important activities like shifting of utilities on the area coming under the project are also yet to be started”.
“Though Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) have been prepared by the NHAI and are under discussion at its headquarters, the same cannot be forwarded to the Union Ministry of Surface Transport and Highways till the completion of land acquisition process as nobody knows whether this process will culminate without any trouble, which otherwise is a common phenomenon in respect of major projects in Jammu and Kashmir”, sources further informed.
It is pertinent to mention here that in Jammu the ring road would be taken up in two phases. In Phase-I, the ring road would start from Thandi Khui near Vijaypur and reach Akhnoor via Derian while in Phase-II, the road would be taken from Akhnoor to Jagti in Nagrota and linked with Jammu-Srinagar National Highway. With this entire traffic bound to Srinagar and five districts of Udhampur, Reasi, Ramban, Doda and Kishtwar will be directed through ring road from Vijaypur and immensely help in reducing the traffic burden on Vijaypur-Jammu road and entire Jammu city including BC Road.
Giving details about land required for the ring roads, sources said that for Jammu ring road, the NHAI is required to acquire 330 hectares of land in 52 villages while as for Srinagar ring road 377 hectares of land is to be acquired. As far as land acquisition for Jammu ring road is concerned, sources said that proceedings under Section 4 of J&K Land Acquisition Act have been initiated in respect of 40 villages out of total 52 villages.
Out of these 40 villages, the State Government has been approached for approval to initiate proceedings under Section 6 and 7 in respect of only 16 villages till date as under these Sections the Revenue Minister or an authority authorized by him is competent to accord sanction for proceedings.
Under Section 6, the objections of the people are invited to land acquisition and following completion of this exercise the proceedings under Section 7 are initiated whereby the Collectors are directed to formally acquire land. Thereafter, under Sections 8 and 9 the land is measured and rates are fixed following which the final award is announced under Section 11 of the Land Acquisition Act.
“All this indicates that land acquisition in respect of ring road at Jammu is still at initial stage”, sources said, adding “NHAI is not in a position to specify any time-frame for start of land acquisition proceedings in respect of Srinagar ring road, which otherwise is a lengthy process keeping in view the time-frame fixed for inviting objections from the public and keeping the notifications in public domain”.
“In view of the given circumstances the plan of easing traffic congestion in both the capital cities will remain a dream for unspecified period”, sources remarked.
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