Minimizing disruptions and ensuring uninterrupted traffic on Jammu-Srinagar throughout the year has been an endeavor of the successive governments. It is the only road-link of Kashmir with the outside world. Officially the thoroughfare is an all-weather road which connects J&K’s twin capitals of Srinagar and Jammu. However, it has perennially been a nightmarish experience for people. The 270-km long road remains shut for days due to shooting stones, landslides, soil-erosion, frost and other weather related occurrences, not only in winter but also in other seasons. Of late shooting of stones at places affects the smooth traffic flow more than other impediments. The traffic disruptions on strategic road cause economic losses.
Given the rains and snowfall, the road is bound to see more disruptions in days to come. The problem is not new and there have been efforts recently to find answers by those who are at the helm to the question that the people have been asking for decades now: “how long would these closures, and disruptions, happen on the highway.”
Last month, the Chief Secretary chaired a meeting to review the status of development of different roads and Highways connecting different parts of the J&K. The top civil officers impressed upon the officers to ensure that there was smooth movement of traffic on the Highway during the winters. He rightly asked them to be ever ready with requisite men and machinery to deal with the weather vagaries. It is expected that some bridges and tunnels being constructed would get completed by March 15.
More often than not, there are also tragic accidents on the highway and they keep on repeating along the road, lifeline for the people of Kashmir for dependency on food and other essentials.
The strategic road has tragically, and historically too, also consumed numerous lives. The death of any person is colossal and no amount can bring back to families who lose their loved ones, their bread-earners.
Unfortunately, there seems to be no end to it even as successive governments try some measures from time to time to address the issues.
Whether there is negligence on part of the officials or could these deaths been averted is a matter of inquiry but more measures are needed to find answers to routine troubles.
One would expect the construction work along the highway to be accelerated along with erecting the defences at various places to prevent the shooting stones from blocking the thoroughfare. There is hope that all measures would be taken by the authorities to stop the nightmarish experience by commuters.
