From very first day of assuming power, Modi Government was very clear about the need of improving and upgrading road connectivity in J&K. Apart from the security point of view which serves a catalyst to the vision of border road network in the State, there is the important factor of making roads safer for vehicular traffic, widening them for smooth flow of traffic, excavating tunnels to reduce distance and avoid recurrence of landslides that force suspension of road traffic. All these issues are in the sight of the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways. A delegation of the J&K Government led by the Minister of R&B called on the Union Minister and discussed with him requirements of the State in terms of improving and expanding road connectivity in the State.
There is the need to take an overall view of road connectivity as it exists in the State today. Despite the fact it is a hilly state, yet given modern techniques of road building, tunnelling etc. it is possible to improve connectivity to a large extent. The delegation has identified some new projects connected with road building and the Union Minister gave them very patient hearing. The healthy signal is that most of the new projects proposed by the team are physically viable and in some cases preliminary survey has also been carried out. Proposed projects are spread out in all the three regions of the State. The subject of slow pace of Border Road Organization and more plans under Inter State Connectivity Project also were discussed. Approval for one more Inter State connectivity project— Basohli-Bani-Bhaderwah costing Rs 197 crore has been secured in addition to already agreed upon funds by the Union Ministry.
The Minister for R&B has been assured of sympathetic consideration of his proposals and the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways agreed to enhance the sanctioned allocations under CRF to a total of Rs 480 crore for current fiscal year and asked for a Detailed Project Reports of the projects other than the already submitted 13 projects including up-gradation of old Airport road from Bypass to Rangreth and Dang-Duru to Hanzal Marwah in Kishtwar.
This shows that the Centre is seriously interested in providing all support to the State Government in upgrading and improving road connectivity in the State. But the big question is whether the State Government shows its efficiency and seriousness in implementing the projects on ground. Many a time projects are floated, money is made available but at the end of the day, execution fails. We hope the Minister of R&B will have assured the Union Minister of Transport that the coalition Government in J&K is firmly set to implement these schemes.
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel