Srinagar
Long-pending issues stalling the expansion of the Srinagar-Baramulla national highway from Parimpora to Narbal areas in Srinagar have been resolved after the government and the landowners reached an agreement.
The resolution of issues came Sunday during Deputy Commissioner Srinagar Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary’s spot inspection and meeting with concerned owners of land and structures along the stretch.
The long-unsettled issue of relocation of the Damdama Sahib Gurdwara at Zainakote – whose case has been in the court since 2015 – was also resolved on the occasion. It was agreed that the administration will provide land at an adjacent spot and also reconstruct the Gurdwara.
The DC issued on-the-spot instructions for processing transfer of land and assured the Gurdwara managing committee of earliest reconstruction of the place of worship.
The pending issue surrounding compensation to the owner of the petrol station in the area was also resolved on the occasion. The Collector was asked to hand over possession of the land in question to the executing organisation within two days in order that the latter can resume the expansion work. The petrol station was also a major bottleneck hampering the said expansion.
The DC also took stock of shifting of utilities along the said stretch. It should be noted the administration has released 10 lac rupees to the Power department for the purpose. The department was directed to speed up and complete the shifting of utilities before the end of this month.
It should be noted that these issues hampering the expansion of the national highway along this stretch have been pending for several years. With their resolution the Border Roads Organisation can now resume the work — which it was said will be done later this month.
Dr Shahid also inspected the ongoing work on the two-kilometre stormwater drainage project – which includes the construction of a dewatering station – being executed in the area under the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation or AMRUT scheme. He directed for round-the-clock work on the project and earliest completion of it which it was said will benefit a population of over 80 thousand residents.
The project is expected to be completed before the 31 March 2020 deadline. It is notable that the drains being used as part thereof are massive seven-meter deep pipes with a huge six-feet inner circumference.
It was informed that the BRO and the Traffic department have devised a well-thought-out joint plan to ensure minimal disruptions to traffic movement during the execution of this drainage work along the stretch.
Dr Shahid while speaking on the occasion said requisite formalities will be processed immediately to enable the earliest resumption of the expansion work along the said stretch.
