Chairman and Chief Executive Councilor (CEC), LAHDC, Kargil,  Feroz Ahmad Khan visited Zero Point Zojila and took stock of the snow clearance operations on Srinagar-Kargil-Leh Road NH-01 on April 19.

Feroz Ahmed Khan interacted with the engineers and operators of Project Vijayak involved in the road clearance operations and praised their tireless efforts in completing the snow clearance operations up to Zero Point despite the recent heavy snowfall and adverse weather conditions.

Commander 762 Project Vijayak Colonel Kaushik Mitra informed that after completing the road clearance works up to Zero Point, the Vijayak team is presently clearing snow beyond their jurisdiction while from Sonamarg side the Project Beacon has reached up to Dayal side and about 1.8 kilometers stretch still remains to be cleared up.

The highway will be opened for vehicular traffic by tomorrow afternoon subject to fair weather conditions. 

Later, CEC Khan along with the E C, Works Mubarak Shah Naqvi; DC, Kargil, Santosh Sukhadeve; Superintendent of Police (SP) Kargil, Anayat Ai Choudhary took stock of the necessary arrangements being put in place for the establishment of COVID-19 screening points at Meenamarg Check Post.

CMO Kargil, Dr. Munawar Hussain Wazir informed CEC that 8 sampling points have been constructed separately along with 4 screening points. While discussing the necessary arrangements he also informed that inbound passengers will go mandatory 3 days home quarantine before obtaining their RT-PCR report.

Deputy Commissioner, Santosh Sukhadeve instructed CMO Kargil to strictly monitor the inbound GREF labourers and said that no labourers should be allowed to enter into Ladakh without a negative RT-PCR report.     

Underlining the need to put in place a mechanism of strict vigil to contain the spread of COVID-19 into Ladakh, CEC Khan instructed the officers concerned to remain in complete readiness to take all suitable measures to ensure foolproof screening and testing of all inbound travellers once the Zojila Pass opens for vehicular traffic. 

CEC also exhorted upon officers to work in complete coordination to ensure the smooth passage of vehicles on the opening of the NH-01 for traffic besides also ensuring foolproof screening of all inbound passengers at Meenamarg Check Post.