STATE TIMES NEWS
BHADARWAH: Former Minister and MLA Banihal Vikar Rasool Wani has expressed his anguish over the condition of Jammu- Srinagar National Highway from Patnitop to Jawhar tunnel.
He said that apart from the four laning Jammu to Udhampur stretch completed and commissioned but the rest of this highway is in very bad condition which adds more fuel to the day today road accidents particularly in Ramban and Banihal areas.
In his press statement MLA Banihal Vikar Rasool Wani said that he has highlighted this genuine issue severally in and out of state assembly but no concrete step had yet taken by the government to address this long pending public demand,as the maximum portion of NHW1A from Patnitop to Jawaher Tunnel adversely affected with potholes and landslides which is main cause of road accidents from last couple of months.
While Cautioning the Government, MLA Banihal said that if steps are not taken,the time is not far when this road will no longer as a dependable and safe for travel. In the recent past this road was closed for several days at a stretch due to slide at Panthiyal, Gangro and other stretches.
It is, therefore, imperative to reduce traffic on this road to allow room for timely and prompt repairs and also help to speed up work on the four laning project failing which it will snap at vulnerable place faster than it can be put right.
Vikar Rasool Wani urged upon the state government to take steps on war foot basis to ensure the early repair of damaged portion and blacktopping on complete damaged stretch so that the general public can not suffer more and the alarming ratio of road accidents can be controlled in coming days.