Srinagar, 29 June 2019: Jammu and Kashmir National Conference leader and Member of Parliament Anantnag Hasnain Masoodi expressed concern over the frequent blockage and accidents on the Srinagar –Jammu national highway, urging the government of India to upgrade the road stretch connecting Srinagar to Jammu on war footing.
Hassnain Masoodi while speaking in the parliament said that the 294 km road link between Srinagar and Jammu has turned into a deadly death trap for the commuters. He said the stretch of road between Ramban and Banihal is worst hit.
“The upgradation of Srinagar –Jammu national highway does not make any sense unless the stretch of road between Ramban and Banihal is provided with a tunnel. The deforestation and the excessive blasting of the area have made the soil in the hilly terrain very susceptible to landslides. No sooner the area receives precipitation the stretch of road in the area gets blocked either due to shooting stones or massive landslides, often resulting in human casualties. The need of the hour is to have a tunnel in the area which will help save many precious lives,” he said.
Masoodi said that the sporadic landslide and mud slides on the stretch also affect the economic activity in the land locked valley. “Particularly during the winter months, the intermittent blockages on the route create scarcity of essential items in the valley. Today we refer to the world as global village, but here we live in a place that is yet to have an all weather route. The frequent blockages on the stretch add to the mounting woes of students, traders and patients who often fail to reach their destinations in the other parts of country,” he said.
