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Jammu and Kashmir Unrest Delaying Construction of Strategic Roads

The construction of roads would boost military’s ability to mobilize faster towards adverse areas.



Security forces keep strict vigil in Srinagar as curfew continues in Kashmir valley. (Photo: IANS)
Security forces keep strict vigil in Srinagar as curfew continues in Kashmir valley. (Photo: IANS)

The unrest in Jammu and Kashmir has delayed the construction of the strategic roads in the state, which when completed would boost military’s ability to mobilize faster towards adverse areas, the government said on Thursday.

Four-laning works on Srinagar-Baramulla-Uri, which was scheduled for completion by July 2016, has been delayed. Handing over of road Sinathan Pass-Anantnag to NHAI will be postponed as the pending work on this road will now go beyond the planned September.

In addition, many vehicles and equipment have been damaged, the non-availability of which will directly affect the work efficiency.

The most affected locations where such delay and loss of work has been seen are Tangdhar, Anantnag, Kupwara and Bandipur sectors, a statement by the Defence Ministry said.

Security personnel deployed on Srinagar roads as authorities impose curfew in all ten districts of the Valley. (Photo: IANS)
Security personnel deployed on Srinagar roads as authorities impose curfew in all ten districts of the Valley. (Photo: IANS)

It added that majority of the non-local labourers from the Valley have moved out of state in search of their daily livelihood due to continuous disturbance.

Movement and shifting of the material to forward areas have also hampered the work in Ladakh region which will severely impinge on the completion of strategic roads and spending of allotted funds.
The Statement

The ongoing unrest in Kashmir has adversely affected the road construction activities undertaken by Border Road Organisation, it said.

The Ministry stressed that BRO has suffered loss of working season, loss of more than three months of working season during summer is of serious concern, while endeavours are being made to execute work whenever and wherever possible.

But owing to restrictions on movement of vehicles and persons, desired progress could not be made and as a result many appreciated targets perforce will have to be revised.
Defence Ministry