Bridges on Lakhanpur-Jammu highway in bad shape

Bridges on Lakhanpur-Jammu highway in bad shape
Archit Watts
Tribune News Service

Lakhanpur/Jammu, August 9
Though the four-laning of the National Highway 1-A from Lakhanpur to Jammu is almost complete, bridges over the highway are in bad shape.

On crossing the Ravi bridge to enter Lakhanpur,one finds a potholed road.All other bridges on the Lakhanpur-Jammu stretch of the national highway are in a poor condition with damaged railings,leading to accidents.

Though the government is aware about the increasing number of accidents on this stretch and a large number of tourists and pilgrims to Mata Vaishno Devi and the Amarnath cave shrine visit the state, neither the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) nor the state Public Works Department (Roads and Buildings) have taken steps to improve the situation.

“The authorities concerned have failed in their duty.The bridges require immediate repair. The railings on most of them are damaged, thus making this stretch of the national highway accident-prone,” said Rajiv Sharma, a resident of Kathua. He added that, “The situation has become miserable for those who travel at night. Accidents are taking place frequently.”

However, MK Jain, in-charge of the NHAI (J&K), said, “The four-laning of this stretch will be completed in two-three months and once alternative bridges are ready, repair work on the old bridges will be started.”

Admitting that some bridges were in bad shape, DL Sharma, Chief Engineer, PWD (R&B), said, “A few bridges on this stretch of the national highway belong to the PWD and there is a need to start repair work on them. We have apprised the minister about the situation. We are hopeful of starting the work shortly.”