Early Times Report
Jammu, Mar 20: Despite projecting Jammu and Kashmir as major tourist destination for lakhs of people visiting the state, government has failed to provide wayside public amenities on National Highway. Two years back, government had announced construction of rest houses for drivers and commuters, but not a single such facility has been established so far.
For most of the people which include lakhs of pilgrims travelling on National Highway from Lakhanpur-Jammu- Srinagar route is at times a nightmare due to absence of public connivance facilities and wash rooms. Major problem is for ladies and old people who had defecate in open. "Crores of rupees have been invested in construction of world class road by National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) but no wayside amenities have been created.
Even the tourism department has failed to provide proper shelter or service to the visitors", said Surinder Singh, a daily commuter to Udhampur. These wayside rest centers were planned to have big halls with bedding, kitchen, washing rooms besides other amenities, allowing the travelers to take rest and get refresh for their onward journey. Though Dhabas and road side restaurants provide such facilities, but there is no sanitation. Few years back a urinal was constructed at Nandani tunnel, by Forest Department, but in absence of maintenance, it has been closed, but people still use it for easing themselves creating unpleasant environment around the place. In 2012, state had announced that with the help of NHAI, Wayside Amenities or rest centers for commuters would be set up on Jammu-Srinagar and Batote-Doda- Kishtwar National Highways where the drivers can take rest and refresh themselves for forward journey. ' An inspection was also conducted by the Transport Department along with representatives of Beacon and NHAI to identify the places for establishment of such places, but nothing has been done so far", said Najeeb Malik, a businessman from Kishtwar. |
