Kulgam, June 4, KNT: In a significant development aimed at breaking the long-running deadlock over the expansion of the Kulgam Bypass on NH-444, Deputy Commissioner Kulgam Shahzad Alam on Thursday visited the project site and directed highway authorities to remove all remaining structures obstructing the proposed road widening project within seven days.
The intervention comes days after conflicting claims by the district administration and NH-444 authorities exposed a coordination gap over compensation, demolition and project execution.
During his visit, the Deputy Commissioner reviewed progress on the bypass project and inspected stretches where commercial and residential structures continue to stand despite acquisition and compensation proceedings having reportedly been completed.
Officials present on the occasion were instructed to ensure that all pending obstructions are cleared without further delay so that widening work can proceed unhindered.
The Deputy Commissioner specifically directed NH-444 authorities to complete demolition of the remaining structures within a week and submit progress reports accordingly.
The bypass project had recently become the subject of public debate after the district administration maintained that compensation had already been disbursed to affected property owners, while NH-444 authorities claimed they lacked adequate support, manpower and records necessary for demolition and clearance operations.
The dispute had raised questions about accountability as several compensated structures continued to remain intact, with widening work progressing around them instead of through a fully cleared corridor.
Thursday’s visit by the Deputy Commissioner is being viewed as an attempt to resolve the administrative impasse and accelerate work on a project that has faced repeated delays despite acquisition proceedings having been completed years ago. [KNT]
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