Land acquisition process for 4th Tawi Bridge-Akhnoor Road vital link begins

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 24: After the completion of 4th bridge on river Tawi in a record time, the Roads and Buildings Department has set in motion the process to create Bye-Pass Corridor between Satwari and Akhnoor road by constructing vital 12 kilometer link between the bridge and the TV Tower point.
Official sources said that on the instructions of the Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah the R&B Department has started exercise to acquire land for construction of 12 kilometer road from 4th Tawi Bridge to TV Tower Point on Akhnoor road in order to utilize this bridge for diverting vehicular traffic from the core area of Jammu city by creating a Bye-Pass Corridor between Satwari and Akhnoor road.
Disclosing that construction of approach road from Bhagwati Nagar to TV Tower on Akhnoor road requires an amount of Rs 102 crore, sources said, “the funding of this vital link has already been taken up with the State Government as well as Union Ministry of Surface Transport”, adding “it is expected that before the completion of land acquisition process the funds for this project would be arranged”.
At present the 4th Tawi Bridge will help in diverting 50% of the traffic volume plying on Canal-Jewel Chowk-Dogra Chowk-First Tawi Bridge but following the construction of 12 kilometer link between Bhagwati Nagar and TV Tower Point Army/Heavy Traffic meant for Akhnoor and Rajouri-Poonch districts will also get diverted thus easing out traffic congestion considerably in core area of Jammu city, sources said, adding all the vehicles carrying Amarnath pilgrims for Base Camp at Bhagwati Nagar will be diverted from this bridge during the forthcoming Amarnath pilgrimage and ease out pressure on the core areas of Jammu city.
“Unlike three other bridges on river Tawi, the 4th Bridge has been completed in a record time of three years due to the continuous monitoring by the Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, who visited the project site a number of times to personally take stock of the pace of work”, sources said.
The main structure of four lane prestressed bridge has been completed at a cost of Rs 89.50 crore while as an amount of Rs 57.50 crore has been expended on construction of left side approach from bridge to Asia Hotel, construction of left side approach from Satwari Chowk to Technical Gate, construction of double lane approach road from Technical Gate to bridge site and extension up to Bikram Chowk and construction of right side approach from Canal Head to bridge site.