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Bijbehara residents protest, demand completion of subway on NH-44

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Says incomplete subway has turned the vital crossing into a death trap

Anantnag: The residents of Bijbehara and Arwani area of Anantnag district in south Kashmir on Thursday assembled and staged a protest against the national highway authority for failing to complete a subway on the National Highway near Bijbehara.

The residents said that the spot where the subway has been left incomplete has turned into death trap as over a dozen persons have lost their lives in the last one year while hundreds have been injured.

They said that due to incomplete subway the traffic coming from Shopian side and Bijbehara side are unable to cross the spot below national highway rather they have to reach the highway by crossing over to the other side of Shopian Bijbehara road.

They said it often leads to traffic jam for hours together besides that accidents on the spot have become the order of the day.

Locals said that there is technical fault committed by the officials of the National Highway while the road was being constructed.

“Now they want to hide their fault and are reluctant to construct a subway on the highway so that the traffic issues can be resolved,” the locals said, alleging that the construction works on the subway have been stopped many times during the past one year.

The locals said that even if the subway records completion it will serve no purpose as heavy motor vehicles can’t pass through it as the height of the subway is just few feet.

“We have brought this issue into the notice of concerned authorities several times but to avail,” they added.

“Every time when we raise any voice over the issue, the work on the subway is restarted for two three days but it is again put on halt later,” said Irshad Ahmad, a resident of Bijbehara.

He said that DC Anantnag and other officials have been informed in this regard many a times but no one is listening to the demands of the people.

Now the locals have sought the attention of LG Manoj Sinha, National Highway Authority officials and the district administration to address the issue.

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