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Dilapidated Batote-Kishtwar Road

Kashmir Times. Dated: 2/14/2020 1:30:35 AM

Dear Editor,
I would like to highlight the concern through the medium of your esteemed daily newspaper. The Batote-Kishtwar National Highway -244 the only road link between Doda and Kishtwar districts is become a death trap for commuters. The National Highway and Infrastructure Development Corporation which look after the maintenance of the Highway had blacktopped part of the few year back, but it has now develop potholes. At many places the road is risky and threat of accidents has increased manifold. As the protection wall has increased manifold but now with the collapse of protection wall and fresh landslides are causing more damage to the highway.
The Nashri bridge also developed large potholes. The first two kilometres from Nashri to Batote are also in a bad condition. Dozens of vehicles have suffered damage due to the condition of the highway near Nashri but the authorities are not doing anything. The centre had given chores of rupees for maintaining the highway burst the corporation macadamised only a few kilometres of the road. Connectivity on the Batote-Kishtwar National Highway has become risky due to the dilapidated condition of the road with the threat of a major disaster looming larger. The maintenance of this 115km stretch of the road is with the public work department.
It has taken charge of the road from the BRO last few year when incessant rain damage the road. Since then PWD was busy clearing landslide debris and keep the road clean. The BRO did not do its job honestly and the condition of the road deteriorated. When PWD took it over from the BRO people expected change. But the PWD official have disappointed the people of Doda and Kishtwar districts. The highway is the life line of more than 7 lakh people of Doda and Kishtwar as it connects the area with Jammu and other part of the State. Hundred of vehicles both private and commercial, including ambulance are piled on this Highway.
The twin district get ration supply through this highway and it's closure affects routine life in the Chenab Valley district. The PWD has not taken any step to clear boulders, big stones, mud and unwanted materials from the road side which has reduced the width of the road to single vehicle use. The stretch of the road from Assar to Pul Doda is the worst affected. The road in between these two place is in a bad condition and boulders and stones are on the either side of the road which pose a great risk of head to head collusion of the vehicles and during rain getting hit by shooting stones. Sometime movement is not possible in case of heavy rain.
Due to poor road connectivity a traveller is not sure whether he will reach his destination safely or not. On this road stretch from Batote to Kishtwar many vehicles have been damaged causing loss of life property. Last but not least I requested Govt. of J&K state to hand over Batote-Kishtwar road to Border Road Organisation once again so that the road condition can be improved and loss of life and property can be minimised.
—Mool Raj,
R/o Bhagota (Panjsoo)
Distt. & Teh Doda.