Abodh Sharma
Early Times Report
Jammu, Oct 19: With work on the 8-lanning of the NH 144-A Jammu-Akhnoor Road getting underway, aspersions have been raised on the inevitability of the 6 Km long proposed flyover from Canal head to Ganesh Vihar especially after the approval of the Ring Road from Raya to Nagrota, which is likely to take a huge chunk of traffic heading towards Akhnoor and beyond.
Sources informed ET that a couple of social and commercial organizations have made representations to the Government, Member Parliament from the Jammu-Poonch constituency and other relevant quarters seeking a review of the project to the extent of construction of the flyover.
The project for 4- lanning of 32 Kms Jammu- Akhnoor road was augmented to be an 8-lane project for the first 6 kms starting from canal head, with the construction of a flyover till Ganesh Vihar. However, the project was conceived and approved by the Union Ministry of Surface Transport at a time when the proposal for construction of the Ring Road from Raya near Vijaypur to Jagti Nagrota, was still under consideration. The stake holders now claim that the inevitability of the 6-Km flyover had been lost after the approval of the Ring Road project as most of the heavy traffic including that of Defense was likely to be diverted through the Ring Road.
In a representation to the MP Jugal Kishor Sharma, the residents of Akhnoor road have appealed for a review of the construction of flyover which is likely to cost Rs. 350 cr. "After the approval to the Ring Road from Raya to Jagti which is likely to cost 2023 Cr., the Union Ministry must take a relook at the necessity of spending 350cr at the proposed flyover, which has lost its inevitability" Prem Dewan, president of the Canal road residents' welfare association conveyed in his representation. A similar representation has also been made by the PHD Chamber of commerce and Industry, seeking review of the project on same grounds.
The Jammu-Akhnoor-Rajouri-Poonch road was declared NH-144-A and approved under the Prime Minister Development Package for Rs 5,100 crore in November 2015. The Rs 917-crore project (from Jammu to Akhnoor) is all set to commence soon, as the agencies have started the pre-construction work from Jammu. The total civil cost of the project is Rs 800 crore. The remaining amount was to be spent on the preparation of a detailed project report and allied works. SP Singla Construction Pvt Ltd, a Chandigarh-based company, has been given the contract for the project, which has to complete it within 30 months from the date of commencement. |
