Jammu-Srinagar Highway: A Lifeline in Crisis

Highways are often regarded as the life-line of a nation, enabling seamless movement of people and goods, and fostering economic growth.

- VIVEK KOUL

However, the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway (NH-44), particularly the stretch between Ramban and Banihal, tells a different story. This critical section has become notorious for its poor condition, frequent landslides, and routine closures - especially during the rainy season - causing immense hardship to commuters and disrupting connectivity in the region. The Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, one of the most crucial lifelines connecting the Kashmir Valley with the rest of the country, has unfortunately turned into a perilous route where tragic road accidents are becoming an all-too-frequent occurrence. On almost every alternate day, the newspapers report grievous incidents involving loss of life and property. The frequency of these mishaps has made this vital highway a corridor of sorrow and anguish for hundreds of families. It is not just a matter of news anymore; it is a burning issue that demands immediate and sincere intervention from the authorities. Thousands of vehicles, including trucks carrying essential supplies, buses with passengers, private cars, and commercial SUVs, ply this route every day. This constant movement underscores the strategic and economic importance of the highway. Yet, despite its significance, the condition of the road remains far from satisfactory. The stretch between Ramban and Banihal, in particular, is a cause for grave concern. The road surface is battered and broken in many areas, riddled with potholes, narrow curves, and makeshift repairs that cannot withstand even a brief spell of rain. For the drivers, every journey on this part of the highway is fraught with uncertainty, risk, and anxiety.