By: Ahmad Ayaz
Every day, the Kashmir National Highway (NH-44) carries goods, commuters and tourists, sustaining commerce, agriculture and social connectivity. Yet, despite investments exceeding ₹16,000 crore over multiple phases to make it an all-weather, safe, and reliable corridor, NH-44 continues to collapse under the most basic pressures of nature and traffic.
This month trucks laden with apples, buses and private cars remained stranded for more than fifteen days due to landslides and shooting stones. Farmers watched produce rot, tourists canceled trips, and businesses counted mounting losses. Once again, NH-44 exposed glaring failures in governance, planning, and accountability. The question is stark: after spending such huge sums, why does the Valley’s lifeline still buckle under rain and rocks?
The most recurring cause of disruption is landslides and shooting stones. Stretches through Ramban, Banihal, and Udhampur remain treacherous, as heavy rainfall routinely triggers blockages despite tunnels, viaducts, and retaining walls meant to prevent them. Poor planning, weak execution, and inadequate disaster mitigation leave the road perpetually vulnerable. Expensive upgrades mean little when upkeep is ignored. Sections such as Tharad in Udhampur erode easily, while clearance operations move at a snail’s pace. Experts warn that construction must be matched by constant monitoring and swift response—systems NH-44 still lacks.
The consequences are devastating for Kashmir’s economy. Apple harvests and other perishables depend on timely transport, yet closures inflict losses worth crores. Tourism collapses as bookings are canceled, hotels stand empty, and handicraft sales plummet. Supply chains for essential medicines and food items are disrupted, while ordinary commuters, students, and patients face days of uncertainty. With the Mughal Road only a seasonal option and no reliable alternative route available, Kashmir is left dangerously dependent on NH-44.
This is all the more shocking given the scale of public expenditure. The Udhampur–Ramban stretch alone cost ₹1,758.68 crore, while Ramban–Banihal consumed ₹1,623.98 crore. The Banihal Bypass, only 2.35 km long, came at a price of ₹224.44 crore, and the Ramban Viaduct cost another ₹328 crore. Add to this several tunnels with a combined length of 21.5 km, and the total crosses ₹16,000 crore. Despite such unprecedented spending, uninterrupted connectivity remains a dream.
On the ground, the story is grim. In September 2025, a nine-day closure stranded thousands of vehicles with minimal emergency relief. Medicines, food, and essentials arrived late, disrupting daily life. Visitors canceled travel plans, devastating the tourism sector. Retaining walls collapsed, viaducts failed to ease bottlenecks, and tunnels did not guarantee safety. Billions have been spent, yet disaster response, maintenance, and traffic regulation remain substandard.
The question of accountability is long overdue. Why do Ramban and Udhampur still collapse under monsoon rains despite costly upgrades? Why does disaster response move so slowly, leaving commuters marooned for weeks? How were thousands of crores in public funds utilized if the road still fails its most basic function? The National Highways Authority of India, the J&K administration, and implementing agencies must answer for the mismatch between promises and reality. Public trust in governance is at stake.
The lesson here is simple but unlearned. Spending does not equal reliability unless matched by planning, oversight, and preparedness. Vulnerable terrains demand preventive action, constant monitoring, and engineering that anticipates rather than reacts to nature’s force. Transparency matters too, with real-time updates and independent audits essential to restore public confidence. And an integrated approach that combines engineering, disaster management, and traffic regulation is the only way to secure NH-44 as a genuine lifeline.
Until governance, planning, and accountability take precedence over ribbon-cutting ceremonies and inflated budgets, NH-44 will remain less a lifeline and more a symbol of failed promises. The public deserves answers. Commuters deserve reliability. Kashmir’s economy deserves uninterrupted connectivity. And above all, taxpayers deserve accountability.
The writer is a freelancer and columnist who regularly comments on governance and policy issues. Views are personal and can be reached at ahmadayaz08@gmail.com