Srinagar: MLA Nagrota and Provincial President National Conference Devender Singh Rana on Thursday slammed National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) for failing to put in place the road safety and medical emergency measures on Jammu-Udhmapur Highway leading to frequent accidents.

“This stretch of road has taken a high toll with some commuters either succumbing to their injuries or suffering disabilities mainly due to lack of adequate safety measures like , lighting, barriers, road signs, reflectors, designated pedestrian facilities, crossings, underpasses for ensure safe movement, security of the road users and medical facilities”, Rana said while interacting with people at several places in his constituency.

Rana referred to the most shocking and chilling death of a young employee of the Ban Toll Plaza within its premises in broad-day light yesterday and said that in the event of the accident it is the responsibility of the NHAI that they provide immediate rescue and medical assistance but tragically the service is deficient. He quoted the recent example of one Ghulam Mohammed son of Siraj-ud-Din, resident of Tada who met with an accident on January 31, 2017 and Sanjay Verma, son of Rudri Ram resident of Bandsoo, who met the accident on February 14, 2017, saying they are battling for their lives having suffered serious brain hemorrhage because the Golden Hour was lost to do delay in shifting them to Medical College Hospital, as they were not rescued by the NHAI or its mandated agencies. He also referred to the tragic death of Surjeet Kumar Sharma, son of Ram Nath Sharma, resident of Jagti, who met with an accident on February 21, 2017 and said that he was given to understand that the injured remained lying for crucial time unattended in the Toll Plaza premises without being evacuated, leading to his death.

The MLA Nagrota also hit out at the PDP-BJP dispensation for looking to the other-side as far as vulnerability of this important road stretch on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway is concerned that has put the lives of people in jeopardy. He warned against attempts of promoting Mafia Raj under active political patronage.

Rana expressed concern over growing allegations of NHAI-Contractors-Criminals-Government officials’ nexus, saying he was getting perturbed over frequent complaints of the travelers being reportedly harassed, manhandled and threatened at the Toll Plaza. “There have been alleged instances when travelers have been physically assaulted for reasons best known to those who are managing the Plaza and the authorities who are supposed to maintain an oversight into their management.

He appreciated the resilience of the people of his constituency who have been behaving responsibly and cautioned the government to intervene urgently, lest the situation becomes uncontrollable.

Earlier, during his extensive visit of the constituency, the MLA Nagrota laid foundation of six important roads and said that connectivity is key to economic activity and progress of any area. “With dependable road network, the people can have smooth mobility that in turn will give fillip to economic activity in a big way”, he said while interacting with the people of villages to be benefitted by improvement and upgradation of road communication.

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