Pursuing key tunnel, road projects with Centre: Bukhari
JAMMU- Minister for R&B, GP&FC, Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari today said that an effective communication network is essential not only for meeting the requirements of travel and transport but also for rapid socio-economic development of the state and the country, adding that good connectivity and economic growth are linked with each other. He said road connectivity is even more important because it is directly linked to the promotion of tourism.
To set J&K on the path of investment we need infrastructure planning and delivery to improve the lives of our citizens across the State the Minister said in the Legislative Assembly today adding that there is fundamental link between sound infrastructure and productive state economy. He said infrastructure network enables people to gain access to jobs and prosperity. Quotation Noble Prize winner Paul Krugman Productivity is not everything, but in the long run is almost everything, he said good road network is the foundation stone for a successful economy and productive and cohesive society, adding that roads should never be at a standstill.
You have to imagine the future to understand the decisions we need to take now said Syed Altaf Bukhari, adding that a sustainable improvement in economic performance requires a road network, the transport links that connect people with jobs and goods with markets. Appreciating Members for giving valuable suggestions regarding various developmental activities of the department, the Minister assured them that points raised by them would be taken care of. He said steps would be taken to make R&B department efficient, responsive and accountable.
Giving details about the work done the Minister said 1223 Km road length across the State has been blacktopped and WBM laid for a length of 1683 Km during the current financial year so far. He said Rs. 565.71 crore stands expended under R&B Sector during 2013-14 while a road length of 1376 Km was blacktopped besides laying Water Bound Macadam (WBM) over a length of 2354 Km.
The Minister said 6074 Kms have been restored out of the aggregate damaged road length of 6121 Km due to floods of September, 2014. He said out of 600 damaged bridges, 510 bridges have been restored so far.
Bukhari said the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has recently declared seven new National Highways in the state, adding that the government is pursuing vigorously with MoRTH to have Mughal road, Doda-Desa-Kapran-Verinag road upto Jawahal Tunnel exit and Verinag- Achabal-Mattan- Pahalgam road declared as National Highways. He said efforts would be also made to open Mughal Road for vehicular traffic earlier than its scheduled opening time.
Bukhari said project proposals of Rs. 661.74 crore for funding for inter-state and intra-state roads under various centrally sponsored schemes have been submitted to MoRT. These include roads like Jammu Pathankote, Mahanpur-Basohli, Basohli-Bani-Bhaderwah to Bajootra HP, Bhagwati Nagar-Akhnoor Road, Bridge over Rawi River at village Keerian Kathua etc. The State Government is pursuing the matter with Union Government for seeking external financial assistance from Japan International Corporation Agency (JICA) under Official Development Assistance (ODA) loan for 20 major projects which includes construction of 06 tunnels and 14 major / district road projects.
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