Kashmir's Dead Man Curves: The Perils of the Kokernag-Zamalgam Road

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Kashmir's Dead Man Curves: The Perils of the Kokernag-Zamalgam Road 

Peerzada Mohsin Shafi


Last Sunday was both joyful and adventurous for me and my best friends, including Aadil and Aadil, as we visited the famous tourist spot Sinthan Top, located at an altitude of 12,500 feet above sea level. The scenic beauty of Breng has always enchanted me, but this experience was truly unique. The mesmerizing views left such an impression that whenever I close my eyes, I can vividly recall the Kokernag-Daksum-Sinthan Road.

From the locals selling gum shoes and jackets to the picturesque views just a kilometre from Daksum, the journey felt like a glimpse of paradise. As we ascended from 7,000 feet (altitude of Kokernag ASL) to 12,500 feet (Altitude of Sinthan Top ASL), the curves of the road became more intriguing. Interestingly, my friends are also civil engineers—one with a master’s degree in transportation engineering and the other in structural engineering. While enjoying the natural beauty, we also focused on the road itself. We were impressed by the road connectivity provided by NHIDCL from Kokernag-Daksum- Sinthan Top. The horizontal and vertical curves were well-engineered, though a 4-6 km stretch near Sinthan Top was deteriorated due to snow. 

As we returned and reached Daksum, mobile network connectivity was restored. My friend received a call from his cricket team informing him of a match scheduled at Zamalgam (Verinag) Stadium. Being a dedicated cricketer, he urged me to get him to the ground as soon as possible. My other friend, whom I call "Google Server," suggested the shortest route via the newly constructed Watnard (Tantraypora) Zamalgam Road, built by J&K PWD R&B. I agreed and took the route, starting near Hangalgund (Kokernag). The road, approximately 10 km long, was tendered in 2018 at an advertised cost of ₹13.76 crore and awarded at approximately ₹11.34 crore, about 17.6% below the advertised cost.

The road, constructed around a hillock, lacked essential safety features. We noticed the absence of signboards and crash barriers. A sharp curve made us stop and question the design, approval, and construction of the road. During our journey, we encountered a sharp curve that forced us to stop the car and exchange bewildered glances.We encountered steep, non-engineered curves multiple times, requiring high RPMs in first gear to navigate. The narrow, unsafe road felt like a nightmare. It was as if we were all silently questioning the design, approval, and construction of this road.

In our locality, there is a well-known story from the 1980s about a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) traveling by bus. The bus driver had to stop due to an emergency or fault while going uphill. The driver told the MLA, "Sir, the vehicle has lost its motion, and it will be difficult to reach the top." The illiterate MLA replied, "What is the cost of motion? We will buy it for you." Ha Ha Ha. A similar situation happened to us. Upon encountering the steep curve with such a sharp gradient, our car lost its momentum. To navigate the first curve, we had to drive at 5000 RPM in first gear. Three kilometres later, we faced another steep, poorly engineered curve, leaving us astonished once again. The narrow roads, lacking any safety measures, were truly a nightmare. As we continued upward, we encountered 3-5 similar curves. Observing the curves and the overall road condition, one of my friends remarked, "BHAI YE SADAK ENGINEER NAY NAHI, JCB WALAY NAY BANAYE HAI" ("This road wasn't built by engineers but by JCB operator"). This comment had us laughing and reflecting on the Roads & Buildings (R&B) department responsible for constructing this 10 KM stretch.

While travelling we started to compare this road with the Sinthanpass Road and the interesting fact is  despite both NHIDCL and R&B being project implementing agencies of MORTH, the latter failed to adhere to IRC guidelines.One might argue that comparing NHIDCL’s Daksum-Sinthan Top Road with J&K PWD’s low-budget Tantraypora Zamalgam Road is inappropriate due to differences in budget and other factors. However, I am not comparing NHIDCL with PWD. My point is that if the tender was advertised at an amount of ₹11.34 crore, the work should at least reflect that value, adhering to the IRC guidelines for hilly roads.

My subsequent research on the NIT of the road revealed that from Sr No. 12 ,13.1,13.2,13.3 and 13.4 there is a list of mandatory cautionary items amounting 3-4 Lac. which are nowhere on ground.The poorly designed and constructed Kokernag-Zamalgam Road raises significant safety concerns. If NHIDCL can build roads at high altitudes following proper guidelines, why can't R&B construct a safe road along a hillock? The current condition of the road suggests it will become non-motorable with even slight rainfall, posing a high risk of accidents. The road design is extremely precarious. A mere two-second blink could lead a driver straight into the treacherous depths of the Zamalgam Gujjar Basti gorge. Thus, the question arises: What is the fun behind constructing the roads that, rather than fostering connectivity between hamlets, elevate the likelihood of tragic accidents? Instead of bridging the gap between two hamlets, they seem to narrow the distance between the Almighty and the commuters.

Ramban 29.05.2024 (09:50 AM)










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