New Delhi: The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference Member of the Parliament from Anantnag Hasnain Masoodi sought answers from the Ministry of road transport and highways on the steps being taken by them to effectively minimize the incidents of road fatalities on National Highway 44, J&K section.
Seeking elucidation on a matter, Masoodi asked a question seeking a written reply from the concerned ministry with regards to the number of road accidents and resultant deaths reported on Srinagar-Jammu NH-44 during the last year and the number of days NH-44 was closed down due to landslides/harsh weather conditions during the said period, month-wise.
He also asked if any trauma centers have been established near the accident-prone areas on NH 44 and the details thereof and if not, the reasons thereof.
Masoodi also sought elucidation on the steps being taken by the Government to effectively minimize the incidents of road fatalities on the said NH 44. He also desired to know if the newly constructed tunnel has collapsed due to environmental hazards on the said NH and if so the details thereof.
In his reply, the concerned minister Nitin Gadkari said that the total number of accidents last year is 648 and total reported deaths was 93 and the road closures due to landslide just lasted a few hours only as the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) has deployed quick response teams at vulnerable locations to remove slides and normalize traffic at the earliest.
In his reply, Gadkari further noted that medical aid posts have been constructed by NHAI on recently completed projects and provision has also been made for the construction of Medical Aid Post in under-construction projects.
In the Jammu-Srinagar section of NH-44, out of 260 km length, 4-laning in about 210 km – including 10 tunnels in a length of 21.50 km – has already been completed, the reply entailed.
“Work on 4-lane in the balance of 50 km including 6 tunnels (9.664km length) and a viaduct (6.02 km) is under progress, and is targeted for completion by Aug 2025. After completion of these tunnels and viaduct, the entire NH-44 will be mostly free from the effect of landslides and all-weather connectivity will be ensured between Jammu and Srinagar,” Gadkari added.
