KEA concerned over frequent closure of Kashmir highway, seeks Guv’s intervention

Srinagar: Expressing serious concern over frequent closure of the Srinagar-Jammu highway, Kashmir Economic Alliance (KEA) chairman Muhammad Yasin Khan on Saturday said that the miserable condition of the 300-km-long road has taken ‘Kashmir and its people hostage’.
He said over seven million people living in Kashmir have been left at the mercy of landslides that disrupt traffic on the only all weather road, which connects the valley with rest of the country, as the alternate Mughal road has not been explored even after 70 years.
Mr Khan, who also heads Kashmir Traders and Manufacturers Federation (KTMF), said while the rest of the world is getting benefitted through advancement of technology, Srinagar-Jammu highway has taken a reverse gear. “In the last three months, the highway was closed for over three dozen times which is alarming and badly affects normal life and economic activities in the region,” Mr Khan said in a statement issued here on Saturday.
He alleged the faulty execution of the highway widening between Banihal and Ramban was reportedly the main reason of the frequent highway blockade. “In the last three months, not a single vehicle may have travelled on the highway undamaged, while the escape of passengers from landslides and shooting stones is not less than a miracle,” he said.
He said the while the common people were suffering, the transportation of the goods has equally affected lives of common people.
“Apples that were being transported outside the valley have been rotting due to frequent blockade while same holds true for import of perishable commodities like fruits and vegetables, and even livestock that gets damaged in bulk before entering Kashmir and as a result business community is suffering huge losses running into crores,” Mr Khan said.
He said given the fact that the highway widening and traffic regulation has to be maintained by multiple agencies including Beacon, Traffic Police, Div Commissioners of Kashmir and Jammu and others, ideally the Governor should have asked the Chief Secretary to personally look into the matter and evolve a proper mechanism in coordination with the stake holders.
However, he alleged that even as Kashmir has been facing crises due to shortage of essentials, including fuel and cooking gas, the government is unmoved. “What we have learnt is that perishable items and fuel is made to halt and construction material is being transported on priority,” he said.
Mr Khan appealed New Delhi and Governor Satya Pal Malik to look into the matter.