29-07-2023 : An urgent meeting of the Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Jammu, was convened today under the Chairmanship of Sh. Anil Gupta, Sr. Vice President of the Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Jammu. The meeting saw the presence of Sh. Rajeev Gupta, Jr. Vice President, Sh. Manish Gupta, General Secretary, Sh. Rajesh Gupta, Secretary, and Sh. Rajesh Gupta, Treasurer of CCI. The primary agenda of the meeting was to address the critical issue of the suspension of road traffic between Lakhanpur and Jammu on NH1A, which has been causing significant hardship to industrial and trading activities in the region.
During the discussions, the office bearers expressed grave concern over the lackadaisical approach of the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) and the District Administration of Kathua in restoring the road link. This has led to the diversion of traffic of heavy vehicles from Lakhanpur to Jammu via Dhar Road, resulting in delays in the transportation of goods for the trading community, as well as the receipt and dispatch of raw materials and finished goods by industrial units. Additionally, the diversion has increased road freight costs for transporters, leading to higher prices and scarcity of goods for traders and manufacturers.
It is important to note that the damage to the bridge on the National Highway occurred during a flood on July 19, 2023. While the traffic was initially diverted through the Old Samba Kathua Road, no corrective measures have been taken by the NHAI as of July 27, 2023, for the temporary restoration of the road link on NH1A. Moreover, the situation worsens as the Old Samba Kathua Road is also closed for heavy traffic due to the damage to the Chakra Bridge. This has compelled the movement of all heavy vehicles to be redirected through Dhar Road from Lakhanpur, further exacerbating the delays faced by traders and industrial units in procuring their supplies and dispatching their products.
The Project Director of NHAI stated that it would take approximately 3 to 4 months to restore the 60-meter portion of the damaged bridge on the National Highway near Dayalachak. Given the urgency of the situation, the meeting stressed the need for the immediate creation of a temporary road link near the damaged site, with the assistance of the Army if required.
In light of the prevailing situation, the Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Jammu, earnestly requests the Hon’ble Union Minister of Road Transport and Highway, Sh. Nitin Gadkari, and the Hon’ble Lt. Governor of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, Sh. Manoj Sinha, to intervene in the matter urgently. Their kind intervention is sought to facilitate the restoration of the road link on the Pathankot-Jammu Highway as soon as possible. This crucial step will not only provide great relief to the industrial and trading sectors but also benefit the common people of Jammu and Kashmir, who have been adversely affected by the disruption in transportation and trade activities in the region.