Poor condition of road stretch on NH44 in Ramban irks commuters

Ramban, May 21: The residents of Ramban district are suffering badly due to the pathetic condition of road stretches on the newly constructed National Highway 44, passing through between Nashri and Banihal in Ramban district

The residents of Batote, Chanderkote, Seri, Ramban, Ramsu, and Banihal areas are suffering badly due to the pathetic condition of the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway stretches passing through these areas.

All these areas are located alongside National Highway 44, and there is no alternative or service road to connect Batote, Ramban, Ramsu and Banihal.

People claimed that since the execution work for upgrading two lanes of the National Highway into four lanes was started, it had added to the misery as the highway was not repaired properly by the concerned contractor company , contractors engaged by the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI). They said it seems officers of the National Highway Authority of India “have forgotten” to repair the National Highway, which has been lying in shambles at several places before and after torrential rains in Ramban on April 20.

Locals said due to choked culverts and drainage, all the rainwater, slush, and mudslides from hillocks came down and entered the National Highway road surface at several locations.

Due to this many vehicles, especially loaded trucks and vehicles, got trapped in mudslides during rain at Karool, Mehad, Seri, near Tunnel T2 Kelamorh, Maroog on April 20. However, landslides were cleared and traffic was restored. The road stretches which got damaged due to landslide and flash floods in Peeda, Mehad, Cafeteria, Ramban, Chamba, Seri, Kelamorh and near Maroog newly constructed road stretches have suffered extensive damages, culverts at several places were damaged due to landslides, and road stretches also caved in and also slip sometimes inviting traffic jams on the highway.

Commuters and locals complain that they are facing immense hardships due to the bad condition of the National Highway.

"Regrettably, the officers of the Highway Authority of India are turning a blind eye towards the problems and issues faced by the commuters and the drivers, " Nasseb Singh, a senior citizen of Seri Ramban, said. Residents of Dalwass, Chamba, and Seri have appealed to the authorities as well as the district administration to take cognizance of the issue and the problems and direct the National Highway Authority of India to initiate road repair work, and clear debris from choked drainages, culverts, and underpasses on and alongside the National Highway.

People blame the engineers of the National Highway Authority of India for constructing small culverts instead of bridges at seasonal Nullahs like Chamba, Seri, Battery Chasma and at several other places. Locals said road surface was damaged in Dalwass, Peeda, Mehad-Cafeteria, Chamba, Seri, Kelamorh, Marog. They said that during the brief spell of rain, all the rainwater had entered the road surface and damaged National Highway 44. Locals said that during rain, the National Highway stretches at various places in Ramban, presenting a view of the rivulet. On the other hand, Engineers of NHAI, PIU Ramban, said that to reduce the risk and misery faced by commuters due to the bad road condition of road stretches, especially near the tunnel portals of T2 road repair works were in progress.

Meanwhile, on Wednesday evening Bridge No, 57, Mehad developed some technical issues due to which all the traffic was diverted through Srinagar bound (up) tube.

Due closure of down tube all the traffic is being managed on alternate two - lane Srinagar bound (up) tube. Earlier, officials had said only 150-200 meters road on Mehad - Cafeteria stretch was single and traffic is being managed on one-way basis. Now a Bridge No, 57 near Mehad on Mehad - Karool stretch was closed due which traffic congestion is being witnessed on entire Ramban- Karool stretch since Wednesday evening. Sources said that traffic authorities are facing difficulties in managing both side light, medium vehicular traffic and one way heavy vehicular traffic on Ramban - Karool stretch of National Highway-44.