Slow pace of 4-lane execution work in Ramban irks people

Ramban, Aug 12: The slow pace of four-lane construction works at Dalwass, Mehar-Cafeteria, and at several places between Ramban and Banihal besides the Banihal Flyover project has been hit by delays and causing routine traffic congestion.

The Srinagar-Jammu National Highway, passing through Ramsu and Banihal towns, witnesses routine traffic congestion due to huge traffic, congested roads, and the huge presence of shops and business establishments alongside the highway passing through the towns.

Commuters and drivers complain that the slow-paced work of the four-lane project between Nashri and Banihal is not only causing massive nuisance to commuters but also becoming a major source of slow traffic movement, one-way traffic of heavy vehicles, and traffic jams, especially during rains on the highway.

The construction work on the Nashri-Banihal stretch of the road was started in the year 2014 but it seems the work cannot be completed within the stipulated time despite strict instructions from the government.

Besides converting and developing two-lane highways into four-lane, the construction work on flyovers, overhead bridges, and underpass tunnel works are going on at different places at Dalwass, Mehar-Cafeteria, Digdool, Magarkote, Ramsu, Nachlana, and at other places in Ramban districts but at a slow pace.

The work on the Nashri-Ramban stretch was almost completed except for the Dalwass Flyover project and on Mehar-Cafeteria tunnel.

Locals complained that the work on the Dalwass Flyover project is going on at a very slow pace whereas the work on the two-lane Mehar-Cafeteria tunnel was stalled for the last eight months.

They said that the work on the cut and cover tunnel on the Mehar-Cafeteria stretch near Ramban was going on but at an extremely slow pace.

Similarly, the construction works on the Ramsu-Nachlana, Banihal Flyover, and tunnel work on the Maroog-Digdool stretch were undertaken haphazardly and ordinarily in the mountainous area from Nashri to Banihal where landslides shooting stones are a routine affair.

The landslides and shooting stones during rainy days at various construction sites between the Nashri to Banihal sector of the highway hinder vehicular movement and also cause inconvenience to road users.

People demand the government and district administration pass on directions to the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI)’s subcontractor companies to complete the construction works at the earliest.

However, officials of NHAI said that the work on the Banihal four-lane Flyover project was near completion. Earlier, NHAI had said that the work on the Banihal flyover was fixed for January 2024.