Director General, Border Road Organisation, Lt Gen Rajeev Chaudhry after visiting Baltal and Chandanwari said that the restoration works of Yatra track would be completed by June15.
Earlier, the Yatra track from Baltal to Holy Cave was maintained by PWD (R&B) and the one from Chandanwari to the Cave was maintained by Pahalgam Development Authority (PDA).
The tracks were handed over to BRO in Sep 2022 for further maintenance and upgradation. “The basic scope of work involves snow clearance, widening of the track, restoration of all foot bridges, fixing of hand rails, and construction of breast walls. BRO will complete restoration works by 15 Jun 2023 well before the Yatra starts on 01 Jul 2023”, BRO Chief Lt Gen. Chaudhry said. The restoration works on the tracks could however, commence only in Mar 2023 after the necessary funds were released to BRO by the UT Govt.
“Snow clearance, using plant machinery, commenced on both the tracks from Baltal and Chandanwari in last week of Mar 2023. Concurrent to the progress of snow clearance of the tracks, additional plant equipment and manpower were employed for other restoration works. As on date, eight dozers/ excavators and almost 1100 labours are working on the tracks. Though, unprecedented snow and rain in the higher reaches in Kashmir during April May 2023 has slowed the progress of work, BRO is committed to completing the task in time”, he added. DGBR was briefed in detail by CE, Beacon on the status of various tasks being undertaken by BRO and the envisaged completion plan before the commencement of the Yatra 2023. The DGBR commended the Karamyogis of Project Beacon for the restoration work being executed on the tracks. He assured everyone that despite the loss of precious time due to inclement weather during April-May 2023, the tracks would be made available to the Civil Administration by 15 Jun 2023 as desired. He also informed that the restoration works for further improvement of the tracks will continue even after the completion of Yatra this year to facilitate better quality tracks for subsequent years.
