Slip-shod work in Udhampur-Chenani NH responsible for frequent accidents and deaths: Harsh Dev

Peeved over the slip shod and extremely poor quality of construction work over Udhampur-Chenani National Highway resulting in frequent accidents and the death of a young man named Mohd Rouf of Chenani constituency due to landslide on the said road yesterday, a huge contingent of youth led by Mr. Harsh Dev Singh former minister held a massive protest demonstration outside the office of Regional Director NHAI at Jammu today. The protestors raised slogans against NHAI, Gammon India construction co. and other agencies responsible for poor quality works. The protestors demanded booking of the concerned officers and contractors on murder charges for the death of Mohd Rouf who collapsed on the highway of Samroli due to a huge boulder falling on him while he was commuting on motor bike from Chenani to Udhampur.

Speaking to media persons, Mr. Harsh Dev lamented that the Udhampur-Chenani stretch of the road was in complete disarray resulting in huge inconvenience to the commuters travelling between Jammu and Srinagar. The NHAI and executing agency have failed to give any convincing logic for the inordinate and inexplicable delay of around 8 years in construction or completion of the 25 km stretch between Udhampur and Chenani. “Particularly affected were those who had to shuttle daily between Udhampur and Chenani due to dilapidated condition of road and lacklustre approach of the executing agencies in showing any progress over the years. The public has been crying hoarse for the last five years due to huge inconvenience in transit and frequent fatal accidents but none has responded to the shrill cries of the affected populace of the area”, said Mr. Singh. He sought ex-gratia of Rs 25 lacs to the family of Mohd Rouf who was killed on the road as vicarious liability of the NHAI and construction company under the law of torts.

Mr. Harsh Dev Singh said that the stretch from Udhampur to Chenani in particular is in complete shambles with even the earlier two lane road having been badly damaged and rendered unfit for traffic. There are frequent landslides with shooting stones hitting the vehicles plying on the road and creating huge risks for the commuters. There are huge traffic jams with vehicles remaining stranded for several hours each day on the same stretch due to dilapidated condition of the road whose plight has worsened due to highly negligent and lackadaisical rather criminal approach of the construction company in executing the said work. Further the valley bound vehicles and other traffic to Doda and Ramban districts and tourist traffic to Patnitop is also delayed by several hours due to extremely pathetic condition of the road stretch. There are frequent accidents on the road due to its shabby condition. Moreover the resentment among the locals of the area is brewing with each passing day against the executing agencies”, divulged Mr. Singh.

“And while the construction company has miserably failed to execute the work, the NHAI is also accountable to the public for having given undue concessions and leverage to the construction company without any justifiable reason. The affected people besides the public of District Udhampur have been repeatedly representing the NHAI to take remedial penal action against the said company besides termination of the contract and its immediate completion but to no avail”.

Strongly condemning the apathetic approach of NHAI and executing agencies, Mr. Singh called for immediate remedial action to stem the rot failing which the people would be forced to gherao the concerned authorities besides approaching the Central Vigilance Organizations.