VoL Desk, August 17: In a recent press conference, the Youth Action Committee of Kargil, Ladakh, highlighted serious concerns regarding the construction and quality of the NH-301 realignment project, spanning from Kargil to Zanskar National Highway. The committee’s members conducted an on-site investigation, revealing alarming discrepancies in the project’s execution.

Upon thorough assessment, it became evident that substantial financial resources, amounting to crores of rupees, allocated for the construction of NH-301, have not been utilized in a judicious manner. The committee promptly conveyed its apprehensions to the District Magistrate and the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) Project Management Unit (PMU) in Kargil on July 26th, 2023.

The inspection brought to light that NHIDCL Kargil’s approach primarily involves expanding and maintaining the existing road, without implementing modern road engineering techniques or addressing hazardous conditions such as blind curves. Notably, no significant portions of straight road were observed, indicating a lack of advanced road design methodologies in the project’s execution. The local governing body, Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC Kargil), also seems to have overlooked its oversight role in this critical National Highway initiative, maintained a press release issued by the committee.

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Of grave concern is the disregard for public health and safety, as evidenced by the placement of Stone Crushers and Asphalt Plants directly along the National Highway between villages. This irresponsible positioning has led to severe health hazards for the residents. Moreover, questions arise regarding the compliance of the Asphalt Plants at Damsna Youljuk with operating regulations set by the State Pollution Control Board (SPCB). Any potential illegal operation must be thoroughly investigated, particularly concerning the stone crushers and Asphalt plant at Youljuk Damsna.

Furthermore, the construction practices employed fall short of the Indian Roads Congress (IRC) guidelines. The road width has been significantly reduced from KM 0 to KM 77, measuring 40 feet instead of the recommended 60 feet, in blatant violation of IRC standards. This compromise in road width poses a grave risk to the safety of commuters, potentially leading to a surge in accidents.

In light of these pressing concerns, the Youth Action Committee urgently appeals to the Honorable Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi Ji, the Honorable Home Minister, Shri Amit Shah Ji, and the Honorable Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Shri Nitin Gadkari Ji, to intervene and conduct a comprehensive investigation. The committee implores the authorities to ensure that the construction adheres to IRC guidelines by rectifying the issues related to zigzags and blind curves, thus mitigating the heightened risk of road accidents upon project completion.