Govt lethargy mars Jammu-Akhnoor 4-laning project

Kashish Sharma

Tribune News Service

Jammu, June 17

The 30-km Jammu-Poonch highway four-laning project continues to move at the snail’s pace as the executing agency has taken up the work only on a 5.2-km stretch till date due to technical glitches and red-tapism.

While officials of SP Singla Constructions Pvt Ltd — the agency which has been allotted the contract of project — preferred not to speak on the subject, the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (NHIDCL) claimed that the work on the remaining stretch got delayed due to certain “technical reasons”. They said it would start in next few days.

Going by the slow pace of the work, sources said the project was unlikely to be completed within the stipulated time-frame.

The project is being executed under the Prime Minister’s Development Package (PMDP) and only 20 per cent of work has been executed on just a 5.2-km stretch.

“The executing agency has been able to undertake work on just 5.2-km stretch due to the non-clearance from some government departments as well as technical issues involved in the project. Now, all issues have been resolved and we are hopeful of early start of work on the project, probably in next few days,” a senior officer of NHIDCL told The Tribune pleading anonymity.

Pertinently, the Jammu-Akhnoor-Rajouri-Poonch road has been declared as the new National Highway 144-A, and approved under the PMDP for Rs 5,100 crore aid in November 2015.

The work, with an estimated cost of Rs 273 crore, was started on August 7, 2018, and it was expected to be completed within 30 months.

While the NHIDCL has been entrusted the task of executing the project on Jammu to Akhnoor section, the Border Road Organisation will take up the development of road on the Akhnoor-Nowshera-Poonch section.

“Our sales have dipped by about 80 per cent due to convergence of a two-way road to one-way. Slow pace and delay in execution of work will ruin our business,” Amit Gupta, manager of a restaurant at the canal head said.

Balbinder Sharma, a shopkeeper complained, “The work is being executed in an unplanned manner. Despite repeated complaints, the executing agency has taken no corrective measures to address the issue of dust in the area”.

A senior officer in administration said the project not only holds utmost public importance but also has strategic importance. It had faced an inordinate delay because of “lethargic approach” adopted by those at the helm of affairs.