Jmu-Sgr highway to witness longer closure
NHAI proposes Bailey bridge as interim measure for connectivity
Srinagar: Authorities Tuesday said that vehicular traffic will remain suspended for few more days on the Srinagar-Jammu national highway in the wake of bridge collapse at Kela Morh, Ramban. However, National High Authority of India (NHAI) has proposed Bailey bridge as interim measure so that one-way traffic is allowed for vehicles carrying essentials.
“The bridge at Kela Morh in Ramban has got damaged, there has to be concrete filling on one side of bridge,” ADGP Traffic T. Namgyal, said.
“Till the concrete is settled down fully the movement of traffic is very bleak, it will at least take 10 days to restore the Highway for the movement of traffic,” he said.
Meanwhile, Highway Authorities are planning to install a Bailey Bridge as an interim measure and have roped in Border Roads Organisation ( BRO) for the purpose.
“The Bailey Bridge can help in restoring the one way traffic on Srinagar Jammu National Highway”, said an official.
In a fresh communiqué by Traffic Police Headquarters J&K which read, “Jammu-Srinagar NHW shall remain closed due to sudden collapse of retaining wall of a bridge near Kela Morh, Ramban on 10.01.2021 at 6:20 pm. Repairing by concrete filling and settling of the concrete for making it motorable may take approximately 10 days as per P.D NHAI (Road construction and maintaining Agency). In the interim, to restore connectivity a Bailey bridge is being launched by BRO.”
Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, P K Pole meanwhile said that stocks including food grains are available for two and a half months in Kashmir while as other essentials are available for 15 days.
“There is no need to panic,” he said.
Notably, as the highway continues to remain closed from the last couple of days, black-marketing is at its peak with people alleging that prices of essential commodities have skyrocketed across Srinagar.
Consumers from different parts of the Valley here have complained of skyrocketing prices of essentials including vegetables, saying that the vendors are selling the goods as per their will.
They said it seems that the vendors have been given free hand to loot the masses as per their will as no action is visibly being taken against the norm violators (sellers).
Altaf Ahmad, a local consumer from Rawalpora said that the vegetable dealers in Mandi should be dealt with strictly as they resort to hoarding of essentials.
Meanwhile, Director, Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs (FCS&CA) Bashir Ahmed Khan said that there are clear directions from the administration to ensure proper market checking and the men from the department have already been pressed for the job.
“We have booked many norm violators so far and seized shops of many as well. Similarly, today, we have seized four shops in Srinagar areas and also lodged four FIRs against the norm violators,” he informed.
He also added that the checking will be intensified further and all those involved in norm violation will have to face the law. (with inputs from KNO)
KV News
