Kulgam administration to build approach road at accident-prone NH-44 crossing

Kulgam, Dec 16: In a significant step to enhance road safety, the district administration in south Kashmir’s Kulgam district is set to build an additional approach road near the accident-prone Khudwani crossing on National Highway-44.

The move comes as a major relief to commuters who have long suffered due to risky conditions at the site.

The current setup has a single crossing used for both entry and exit of vehicles, creating a bottleneck and increasing the likelihood of accidents.

This crossing is vital for both Kulgam and Srinagar-bound vehicles, funnelling traffic through a narrow stretch that has claimed 14 lives since NH-44 was opened to the public.

Speaking to Greater Kashmir, Deputy Commissioner (DC) Kulgam, Athar Aamir Khan, confirmed that the administration was committed to address the issue.

“The construction of an additional approach road to mitigate accidents at this crossing has been a longstanding public demand. The work will commence shortly,” he said.

Khan said that the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the new road had already been prepared and the project is in its execution phase.

“Funds for the project have been sanctioned under the CAPEX budget. The construction is expected to be completed within the next couple of months,” he said.

The announcement has come up as a major relief to the locals.

“So many precious lives have been lost and many left injured due to poor planning,” Tariq Ahmad, a local said. Ahmad recalled that more than 50 sheep were killed in an accident at the same location.

“For years, we have been raising this issue with the concerned authorities, including the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI), but no concrete action was taken until now,” he said

Residents believe the construction of approach roads on both sides of the highway would significantly improve safety for passengers and pedestrians alike.

“The creation of separate entry and exit points will minimise the risk of collisions and traffic jams will be reduced,” they said.