The project was started in many parts of Srinagar, Shopian, Sonamarg and Gulmarg areas and it was said by the then Roads and Buildings minister Altaf Bukhari that the technology will bring ‘revolutionary’ changes in restoration of roads besides giving a ‘boost to the working period by two months.’
In contrast, the reports pouring in have revealed that the technology has failed to deliver on ground with people raising severe concern over the failure of the technology.
Usually, the macadamization lasts upto ending October but it was presumed that with the help of European technology involving the addition of a chemical Evotherm with bitumen will enable the roads and buildings department to carry on with the macadamization till ending December.
Notably, evotherm ensures maintenance of required temperature in cold weather conditions till it is laid on the ground.
Speaking to The Kashmir Monitor, incumbent Roads and Buildings minister, Abdul Rehman Veeri admitted that “the project has not yielded desired results” and added that “in future no such projects will be taken in hand.”
“No macadamization will take place this season as the temperature has dropped down and the labourers and engineers too have left the place because of the unrest,” Veeri said.
Pertinently because of the present situation, the macadamization process along with the other developmental works has received tremendous set back with maximum funds remaining unutilized and hence being diverted to Jammu as per the reports.
“Around 700 crore out of 1400 crore earmarked for developmental works this year have remained unutilized,” said an official at roads and buildings department.
The projects undertaken by the roads and buildings department including the works of PMSGY, CRF and ERA are also due to miss the deadline.