The Jammu and Kashmir unit of the Janta Dal United (JDU) today demanded immediate and time-bound completion of the Banihal–Ramban stretch of the National Highway, citing mounting public suffering due to prolonged delays and poor project management.
JDU Jammu and Kashmir President G.M. Shaheen, in a statement, appealed to the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways to intervene at the highest level to ensure faster execution of the project. He described the highway stretch as extensive and technically complex, but said the absence of strict monitoring and phased implementation had aggravated the situation.
Shaheen said massive construction activity, unstable terrain, damaged road surfaces, and inadequate traffic regulation have turned the vital corridor into a daily ordeal for commuters. “Patients, students, traders, transporters, tourists, and even emergency services are frequently stranded for hours, resulting in economic losses, medical risks, and immense human suffering,” he said.
While acknowledging the scale and engineering challenges involved, Shaheen stressed that poor supervision and administrative lapses were worsening public distress. He urged the Ministry to strengthen on-ground monitoring, increase the deployment of machinery and skilled manpower, enforce round-the-clock work schedules, and put in place effective traffic management mechanisms to avoid chaos.
The JDU leader also appreciated Union Minister Shri Nitin Gadkari for his proactive role in expanding national highway infrastructure across the country, including key projects such as the Srinagar–Baramulla road. However, he said the Ramban stretch continues to remain the most critical bottleneck, severely affecting seamless connectivity between Jammu and Kashmir.
Warning of growing public resentment, Shaheen said that continued mismanagement of the project could further intensify public anger. He called for decisive and time-bound action in the larger public interest to restore normal movement on the highway.
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