DODA- Union Minister of Road Transport & Highways, Nitin Gadkari on Wednesday laid the foundation of 25 National Highway projects in J&K, worth Rs 11,721 Crores, here at the Sports Stadium, Doda.
Gadkari, while speaking on the occasion said that the UT of J&K has a huge tourism potential which will finally reap the benefits of upcoming modern road infrastructure projects. These projects will prove as an important lifeline for the development of the industrial sector too, he added. Union Minister of State at PMO Dr. Jitendra Singh and Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinhawere also present on the occasion.
“The construction of these road projects will save time and fuel. New employment opportunities will be created in Jammu & Kashmir, tourism of the region will get a boost, and social & economic development of the people of the region will be accelerated”, he remarked.
Addressing the gathering, the Lt Governor expressed his gratitude to the Union Minister for laying the foundation of 25 new National Highway projects and taking keen interest in the continuous strengthening of road infrastructure across the region.
LG also secured inclusion of six more road projects for Jammu and one project for Kashmir division under National Highways and Bharatmala category. The inclusion of six Road Projects in the Jammu division will give a massive push to the economic growth and industrial development, besides tapping the tourism potential in the region.
These newly included road projects are: Kathua-Basholi-Bani-Bhaderwah-Doda (170 KM); Doda-Bhaderwah-Chamba (Himachal) Road (132 KM); Dayalachak-Challan-Billawar-Mahanpur-Basohli Road(118 KM); Tawi Bridge-Jammu Airport-Miran Sahib-R.S.Pura Suchetgarh (Old Jammu-Sialkot Road) (29 KM); Surankote-Bafliaz-Shopian-Srinagar (Mughal Road) (145 KM); Atholi(Kishtwar)-Machail-Zanskar Road (Kargil); Narabal-Tangmarg-Gulmarg-Baramulla (70 KM).
Underscoring that robust road network and modern transportation is the key to economic growth, prosperity of the region and transformation in every sphere of life, the Lt Governor said that the foundations of Rs 11,721 crore National Highways projects laid by the Hon’ble Union Minister, besides 07 new projects will pave the way for sustainable development in J&K.
“The new mega road projects will open up new livelihood avenues for the local population and enhancing tourism & business activities, besides strengthening the strategic grid by ensuring all weather connectivity”, the Lt Governor added.
The Lt Governor said that the 25 National Highway projects will connect all the villages of Udhampur, Doda, Jammu, Kathua, uplifting thousands of small and big businesses.
“I am confident that these projects will prove to be an important economic lifeline and highways of progress and prosperity for Jammu division”, observed the Lt Governor.
The Lt Governor said that infrastructure development and raising the standard of living of the common man is an important part of the overall economic priorities of the GoI and the J&K UT government. Now macadamisation of the road is also taking place at double or triple times the speed as compared to earlier. In 2019, 2290 km of road was blacktopped, while last year, 5136 km of road was macadamized. This year a target of macadamisation of 8000 km of road has been set, he added.
Union MoS (I/c), Ministry of Science &Technology, Earth Sciences, MoS PMO, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Department of Atomic Energy and Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh also addressed the gathering and said that this is the historic day for the Chenab region that 25 new NH projects are launched. He said that the central government has framed a separate road map for the development of the UT and to accelerate the developmental scenario, new bridges, roads, tunnels are being built on war footing involving thousands of crores.
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