Excelsior Correspondent
BANIHAL, Sept 28: National Conference (NC) leader and District President Ramban, Mir Sajjad Shaheen has expressed serious concern over frequent traffic jam and closure of the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway (NH44), saying that people have been left at the mercy of landslides and shooting stones that disrupt traffic on the only all-weather road connecting the valley with rest of the country.
In a statement, he alleged that the mismanagement and lack of coordination among the construction companies, Administration and Traffic Police posted all along the NHW were responsible for the present traffic mess on the NHW as these agencies have completely failed to regulate smooth flow of traffic with the result daily road commuters and public in general have to remain stranded in traffic jams for hours together between Banihal and Batote stretch of NHW causing grave inconvenience to students, patients, employees, traders, transporters particularly fruit growers.
He also expressed anguish over the halting of fruit laden trucks on Srinagar-Jammu highway, saying the unnecessary halts are causing huge losses to fruit growers, traders involved with the horticulture sector.
Taking strong note of deteriorating condition of the National highway, Shaheen said the road has turned into a nightmare for commuters and the egregious rise in difficulties to road users count is immensely worrisome.
“The current administration, led by LG must look into the reason why the condition of National highway is going from bad to worse. It seems the road widening project has of now only led to an increase in people’s problems,” he said and asked the Government to consult the experts for reaching to the bottom of problems that have resulted in increased landslides and shooting stone incidents in the area causing immense loss to life and limb, especially post road widening.
Shaheen urged the Administration to expedite the work on the Panthial and Mehar Tunnels and make it functional at an earliest possible time so that no lives are lost in future due to the shooting stones at this deadliest stretch.
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