Srinagar- The Union Territory administration has set an ambitious target to expand road connectivity across the erstwhile state by constructing expressways, thousands of new roads and over 100 ropeways projects across Jammu and Kashmir over the next two decades, official documents reveal.
According to UT administration’s “Vision Document 2047-Jammu and Kashmir”, for the five years from 2022-27, the Public Work R&B department will construct 500 kilometer new expressways/Access Controlled Corridor (ACC)/ national highways in J&K for faster communication in the Union Territory, exploring rich natural wealth, new markets for farmed products, development of indigenous industries and to promote tourism.
Over 2,265 kilometers of new expressways, 2,900 kilometers of major district roads and 14,150 kilometers of other district roads/village roads are planned for construction in Jammu and Kashmir.
During the same period, the department will construct 300-kilometer major district Roads to connect every village with the district headquarters and capital cities for their economic, social, and cultural development. The department will also construct 2500 km of roads in districts and villages to provide decent road connectivity to the Rural Population under the NABARD/PMGSY scheme.
The department will construct 300 km of major district roads to connect every village with the district headquarters and capital cities for their economic, social and cultural development.
The department of central government announced “Parvatmala: national ropeway development programme” to be taken as a preferred ecologically sustainable alternative to conventional roads in difficult hilly areas.
“The aim is to improve connectivity and convenience for commuters, besides promoting tourism. This may also cover congested urban areas, where conventional mass transit systems are not feasible,” the document reads.
According to the document, a copy of which lies with Kashmir Observer, the government is planning to construct as many as 100 ropeways to provide connectivity to many of the habitations which are still unconnected and construction of roads involves cutting of huge numbers of trees in thick forests.
“The development of logistics hubs and allied facilities is likely to boost regional infrastructure and have a positive impact on skill development in the field of software, warehousing, cold storage, cargo handling, and customs clearances etc and also provision for value added services such as packing, re-packing, labeling etc,” the vision document reads.
The vision document further reads that for building connectivity of UT with the rest of the country with adjoining states/UTs and within the State, the UT contemplates using all the three modes Air transport, Railways and Roads to strengthen the connectivity.
“The UT shall be connected to Baramulla with rail link. Airport shall be made modern and National highways shall be made of National/ International standards,” it says, adding that in transportation, metros and hyper-loops shall steer the Mass Rapid Transport System. Electric and green vehicles shall replace fuel based vehicles,”
The government also says that the highways, flyovers and rural roads will be upgraded. Airports will be of international standards and domestic airlines and chopper services will be added over time. Railway will be connected to the last corner of the UT.
“For developing commercial activities, logistic policy shall take care of storage, handling & transportation of materials & goods by creating infrastructure like storage houses, cold stores, Air cargo stations, truck terminals, grand trunk roads for trucks, easing business policies and procedures, creation of trade facilitation centers, building capacities & institutional framework for logistic handling etc,” it adds.
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