KL Report
SRINAGAR
BEACON authorities said it has thrown open the Jammu- Srinagar highway on Saturday afternoon and all the stranded vehicles have been allowed to move towards their respective places.
Talking to KNS, Chief Engineer Project BEACON R.K.Shrama said the department has managed to clear the highway from the landslides which blocked it due to the incessant rains. “Due to the continuous rainfall that occurred last September, the highway became prone to the landslides and at present the situation is as much serious that even the rains for more than one hour could trigger landslides,” he said.
He informed that there were two crucial places along the highway which act as the spoilsport in suspending the vehicular movement. One is Ramsu and another is Magarkot. “The NHAI has taken control of the highway and has already started the project of its widening. But the issue is that they so far have not acquired these two spots wherein the issue of landslides usually occur. It will take more than 11 crore rupees to make these two areas safe from the sand sliding,” Sharma said.
“In near future a meeting is scheduled between NHAI and state authorities wherein the issue of Ramsu and Magarkout will be discussed. I am sure some outcome will be drawn in the meet to get rid of the repeated land sliding,” he added.
Pertinently, 300-km long Jammu-Srinagar Highway remained closed for traffic for the fourth consecutive day till 3 P.M on Saturday due to landslides triggered by heavy rains, leaving over 600 Kashmir-bound passengers are stranded.
Authorities didn’t allow any fresh movement of traffic from Jammu to Srinagar or from the other side. As a result of closure of the highway, over 600 Kashmir-bound passengers were stranded at the Jammu bus stand for the past three days and are demanding that they be airlifted to Kashmir
