SRINAGAR: Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo on Monday visited Ramban to assess the ongoing restoration efforts on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway.
The team inspected vulnerable areas including Marog, Sita Ram Passi, Seri, Mehar, and Dalwas to assess the damage and progress of restoration. Dulloo stressed the urgency of accelerating the repair work to allow the swift resumption of traffic. He also directed the district administration to provide full support to stranded passengers and urged the traffic police to assist in the restoration process.
The Chief Secretary instructed the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to focus on timely and durable solutions to the issues of landslides and road erosion. He also emphasised the need to prioritize the movement of passenger vehicles and trucks with perishable goods once the road reopens.
During the inspection, Dulloo focused on the ongoing Four-Laning Project of NH-44 between Nashri and Banihal, urging the agencies to meet deadlines while ensuring quality and safety. He directed NHAI officers to ensure proper double carriageways in critical stretches of the highway to facilitate smooth traffic flow.
He was accompanied by Deputy Commissioner Ramban Baseer-Ul-Haq Chaudhary, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Ramban Kulbir Singh, SSP Traffic National Highway Raja Adil Hamid, and PD NHAI Parshotam Singh.
Baseer-Ul-Haq Chaudhary briefed the Chief Secretary on the impact of recent cloudbursts and flash floods, including the losses incurred and the relief measures taken for affected families. He also outlined the district’s preparedness for handling such natural calamities in the future.
