Ongoing excavation works at vulnerable places make Kashmir highway prone to frequent traffic shutdowns

Srinagar: The ongoing exaction works at places vulnerable to landslides on Banihal-Ramban track have made the Kashmir highway prone to traffic disruptions leaving at time thousands of passengers and hundreds of trucks laden with essential stranded in landslide prone areas. Meanwhile Commissioner Secretary Works (R&B) department says that the four laning on Banihal-Ramban track is likely to be completed in 3 years but work on Ramban-Nashri track is likely to be completed in next two years. However experts say that it would take not less than four years to complete the work.
Travelers and the workers operating the machine used for excavation works told Kashmir Horizon “the vulnerable places prone to frequent disruptions on Banihal-Ramban track are Sher Bibi, Nachlana curve and Digdol-Ramban track as stone shooting hardly stops for few hours at these places”. A group of travelers told Kashmir Horizon “ better it would have been to suspend the excavation works during mid winter months when frequent snowing and raining triggers frequent landslides and heavy stone shooting at more vulnerable places like Sher Bibi, Nachalana curve and Digdol-Ramban track ”, adding that “ better timing for the exaction works could be mid summer months when frequent raining stops on the highway”. However a retired Development Commissioner (Works) of the Public Works (R&B) department on conditions of anonymity told Kashmir Horizon “ the four laning on Banihal-Ramban track is unlikely to be completed in less than four years keeping in view the pace work on this vulnerable track”. When contacted Commissioner/Secretary Works (R&B) department Khursheed Ahmad Shah told Kashmir Horizon “the work on Ramban-Banihal track is likely to be completed in next 3 years “, adding that “Nashri Udhampur track will be completed in next one year and Ramban Nashri track would be completed in coming two years”.