Work on additional 2-lane Kelamorh bridge nears completion

Ramban, Dec 10: The work on an additional two-lane bridge over Kelamorh nullah and four-lane bridge over Chamba Seri nullah on the Ramban-Banihal section of the four-lane project on NH-44 has almost been completed.

The officers of the National Highway Authority of India, PIU, Ramban said, “The work on both these vital bridges will be completed by or before March, 2024 and they will be opened for traffic.”

Engineers of a construction company engaged by NHAI said that the work on major portions of both the bridges at Kelamorh and Chamba-Seri was completed.

They said that presently work on parapets, furnishing work and the work on the road, leading to both the bridges, were in progress.

“The final stage of work on the additional two–lane road from Seri to Kelamorh stretch is in progress. The work on the four-lane bridge over Chamba-Seri Nullah is also in progress and near completion,” they informed.

“The excavation work for converting two-lane existing highway into a four-lane one from Ramban, Trusul Morh to Chamba and Chamba to Seri stretch is almost completed and the road surfacing, drainage and retaining walls and other allied works are in progress,” they added.

Earlier a two-lane Tunnel T1 and a bridge at Kelamorh were constructed and opened for two-way traffic in January, 2023.

They said the road expansion work on the old alignment road, leading to Kelamorh from Seri and the work on the additional two-lane Kelamorh bridge was started on a fast-track basis in January 2023.

“Once completed it will bring a major relief for the vehicle operators and commuters travelling on Srinagar Jammu National Highway. As both the bridges are being constructed on a crucial stretch on the Ramban-Banihal section of the four-lane project,” they said.

The National Highway Authority of India, (NHAI) under the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), Government of India has revised the existing DPR, contract provisions for 4-laning of Ramban-Banihal section of NHAI from kilometre 151 to 187 on critical locations for making road project all-weather traffic worthy and safe in Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir on EPC (Engineering, Procurement, Construction) mode.

It was proposed to conduct a consultancy service for studying existing DPR and contract provisions for 4-laning of the Ramban-Banihal section under implementation and in pursuance Intercontinental Consultants Private Limited were appointed as consultants by NHAI in September, 2020.

Project Director National Highway Authority of India (NHAI), PIU, Ramban Purshotam Kumar too confirmed that the work on the vital four-lane bridge at Chamba Seri and the additional two-lane bridge at Kelamorh was going on swiftly and the work on both the bridges would be completed by or before March, 2024.

Earlier, the Chief Secretary J&K too asked the NHAI to complete all the four-lane project works in stipulated time.