Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, Sept 22: Bhaderwah-Chamba road, connecting J&K State directly with the Himachal Pradesh through district Doda, is all set to meet September 2014 deadline as work on this prestigious Rs 73 crore project, is going on smoothly.
Being constructed with the initiative of Union Health and Family Welfare Minister, Ghulam Nabi Azad who himself hails from Bhaderwah tehsil of district Doda, this project was sanctioned by the Union Ministry of Surface Transport, under Inter-State Connectivity (ISC), during the year 2009 and the work commenced in 2010. The road was proposed to be completed in three years but the commissioning could not be made possible during September this year as still 30% work on this project has been left and three major bridges are likely to be completed by November this year.
Though, once this 50-kms single road from Bhaderwah to Khundi Maral, up to Himachal-J&K border, was completed during mid-eighties, yet this road was abandoned during militancy from 1989 onwards and due to rains and land slides, it remained closed and turned non-motorable for years. On the public demand and also to give boost to the Tourism in this picturesque area, the State Government then decided to prepare a project for double- lane specification road from Bhaderwah to the border of Chamba district.
Authoritative sources told the Excelsior that it was in earlier seventies after the late Indira Gandhi, the then Prime Minister visited this scenic valley of Bhaderwah and on public demand, the proposal to provide alternate route of communication to further the process of integration of the State with the rest of the country and Himachal Pradesh was contemplated.
The project was taken up for execution during 1974-75 and a 42 kms long single fair- weather road taking off from 8th km of Bhaderwah-Bani-Basohli road, was completed in mid eighties up to Khundi Maral, the Himachal border, which already stood connected with Chamba district headquarters through a good motorable road. The road infact, remained functional for quite some time before it suffered damages due to rains, massive land slides and floods during the year 1988-89. The process of restoration was stalled due to militancy and the road condition further worsened due to abandoning it for over a decade and half.
The sources further disclosed that first eight kilometers of the road which form a part of Bhaderwah-Bani-Basohli road is with the Border Roads Organisation (BRO). From this point up to Himachal border, this 42 kms road stretch is with PWD (R&B). The upper reaches of this road experience heavy snow fall and the work can not be executed for at least three months during winters. During rainy season also the construction work was affected and it slowed down the pace of work.
Chief Engineer R&B Jammu, Tahseen Mustafa when contacted said that road will be commissioned in September next year and nearly 70 % of the work on this road project has been executed. He disclosed that during winter months, the work on this project remains abandoned and during this rainy season also the pace of work remained slow. But now, the work on this prestigious road project is going on well and “we are hopeful to meet the target of September 2014,” he maintained.
Responding to a question, the Chief Engineer said that out of this Rs 73 crore project, Rs 43 crore have been spent. Hardly 30 % work is left and the work on three major bridges is going on smoothly. It is expected to be completed within next three months. Mr Mustafa claimed that the road formation has been kept 10 mtrs wide and the carriage way is nearly 7 mtrs in width. The right of the way is of the order of 15 mtrs. This new road has been constructed in cutting through the existing 5-6 mtrs wide formation to 10 mtrs. The road up to Thanala which is nearly 25 kms from Bhaderwah town, has been black-topped and is motorable.
Mr Mustafa further disclosed that with the opening of this road and also on completion of Basohli-Bani-Bhaderwah road, economy of this area would get boost as it has great tourism potential. The picturesque meadows of Paddari-Salooni, Churha and the small but beautiful lakes of Gadasru, Mahakali and Mahalnag which have so far stayed virgin and unexplored, shall be opened to the national and international tourists. This road is also strategically important besides the security considerations. Initially, it was proposed to be completed in 36 months but in view of harsh winters and heavy snow fall, the progress has been affected.
Executive Engineer R&B Bhaderwah, A N Kundal, who is closely monitoring the work on this road said that there are three major bridges and 13 culverts enroute. The work on these three major bridges is going on at pace. He attributed one year delay on the project to the heavy snow fall during winters and suspension of work for three months on this road every year during this period. He said the work was started in Sept 2010 and had been targeted to be completed in three years. Land acquisition was yet another reason behind some delay.
Moreover, during rainy season the work is also affected. He however, claimed that now work was going on well and 28 kms road has been blacktopped. Now, it is expected to be completed at its next given target of September 2014. Mr Kundal said that Rs 30 crore is yet to be received for the completion of this road project from the Union Government which is directly providing funds under ICS. Timely funding is also important to meet the given target, he added.
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