Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 6: Minister of State for Public Works (R&B) and Revenue, Sunil Kumar Sharma has said that the connectivity of Poonch town with the rest of the State has already been restored temporarily by way of launching a bailey bridge on the upstream of the Sher-i-Kashmir (SK) bridge, a portion of approach of which was washed away due to September 2014 floods but the restoration work on the main bridge has been delayed due to a court case.
While replying to a question of Dr Shahnaz Ganai in the Upper House today, the minister said that a new bridge at Kalai is under construction through project SAMPARK. He said tenders have been invited for construction of 2×35 m (70M) additional span of SK Bridge. The allotment of contract is pending due to court stay. However, it is expected that the stay would be got vacated shortly and the case has been listed for April 8. The Legislator contested and asked if mere for the sake of a court case, the construction on this important and vital bridge as per defence point of view would be stalled for years? The minister claimed that Government was serious with regard to initiate construction work on the bridge.
The minister further said that Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for construction of Mandi-Loran-Tangmarg road under Border Area Development Programme (BADP) has been signed with BRO, which is the executing agency, while as case for forest clearance for the said project is under progress. He said it will be nearly 40 km road and the Government would take up the matter with the higher authorities in Delhi.
Acting Chairman Jehangir Mir also intervened and suggested that this new road link would divert the pilgrim tourists of Budha Amarnath ji yatra to Gulmarg and parts of Kashmir.
Mr Sharma further said that the construction of Mini-Secretariat at Poonch has been taken up at an estimated cost of Rs. 18.32 crore under Special Task Force (STF) against which cumulative expenditure is of the order of Rs 10 crore. Finishing work and roof topping work is in progress.
The Minister said that there is no proposal for construction of double lane bridge over Mandi River at Mandi under consideration of Government at present.
The Minister further said that in order to keep Mughal Road open throughout the year a proposal to construct a tunnel across Pir Panchal pass from Chattapani to Zanznar is being vigorously pursued with the Union Ministry of Road and Highways. The matter of declaring the road as National Highways has also been taken up with the concerned, he added.
The road from Poonch to Chandak is being maintained by Project SAMPARK and there is no proposal at present with BRO to double this stretch, the Minister further added.
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