WE THE PEOPLE
With present snail’s pace, completion of NH-Bypass Project seems quite impossible in near future
Hence people question its unplanned execution, urge Authorities to order probe to identify persons for cost escalation
By: Shirjeel Ahmad
Srinagar: The multi-crore National Highway Bypass Project was taken up in eightees to divert heavy vehicular traffic to ease pressure on Srinagar city’s main highway from Panthachowk to Parimpora, but it has not happened as the Project work has been going on at a snail’s pace. Its unplanned execution has disrupted age-old irrigation system and aggravated drainage problem. Large residential settlements on either side of the Highway turn into cesspools whenever there is minor or major precipitation in the valley as there is no effective drainage system available in the area. Besides inordinate delay in its completion has resulted into escalation of the Project cost and heavy vibrations have damaged a large number of residential houses, which have developed cracks and are likely to collapse.
Pertinent to mention that the Government of India launched a massive Highway Construction Programme during NDA Rule to develop a corridor between North and South and under the same Plan approved Rs.168 crore for the construction of 4-lane By-Pass Project from Panthachowk to Parimpora in Kashmir Valley. This is a part of the same corridor from Kashmir to Kaniyakumari, but the work of the highway disrupted irrigation and drainage system all along its run quite adversely. There was a perennial irrigation canal available in the area earlier to the construction of the highway, which would help in the growth of paddy on a large scale. The State Govern¬ment had constructed necessary headworks and cross-drainage works to ensure uninterrupted irrigation supplies to the fields located in the areas. The officials of the Irrigation Department used to recover Abiana from the farmers and would in turn provide them requisite quantities of water to irrigate their fields. Although drainage system had not been improved in the area, yet the same canal take care of surface drainage and not allow submergence of the residential houses located in the area. But it is unfortunate that the Project Authorities of National Highway By-Pass could not anticipate the adverse effect of their Project work and thus drainage system stands wiped out completely. Construction of heavy embankment has given rise to the drainage problem. The water-carriage system in the area has been affected adversely as most of the areas remain inundated during wet season.
There is urgent need to have a deep drain on either side of the highway from Rawal¬pora to Tengpora in the first stage. This portion is totally built-up and hence presently affected quite adversely. Moreover, bridges constructed across river Jehlum and Doodganga Nallah at Rawalpora and Tengpora have yielded to moving loads completely and hence need reconstruction on top priority basis. Moreover, construction of additional spans near old bridges need push to accommodate 4-lane moving loads. The work on Flyover at Hyderpora crossing has been going on at a snail’s pace, which has become a sore spot. Deploying a few labourers and doing work with frequent intervals casts aspersions on all those, who are incharge of this Project
It is said that the Project has suffered due to frequent transfer of engineers, indecision and lack of drive and dash. Hence people seek intervention by the top Authorities to fix responsibility for inordinate delay and pace of work got speeded up to ensure its completion to avoid further cost escalation. Besides there is urgent need to construct deep drains on either side of the highway to control submergence of residential houses located on either side of the highway. Moreover, existing damaged bridges need to be reconstructed, as these seem to have outlived their utilities.
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