Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Sept 18: The Central Government has approved Rs 200 crores for inter-State connectivity involving three States including Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab and Himachal Pradesh through Lakhanpur, the gateway to J&K, which would boost road network in the State and increase flow of tourists including pilgrim tourism in Jammu region.
Union Roads and Surface Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari has conveyed approval of the project to the State Government and assured its full funding by the Centre as the project will help improve road infrastructure in three States and boost flow of tourists including religious tourists to Katra and Amritsar, the two major pilgrim towns of North India and tourist destinations of Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh.
Deputy Chief Minister Dr Nirmal Singh, who had mooted the inter-State road connectivity proposal for three States in consultations with Akali Dal-BJP Government in Punjab, confirmed to the Excelsior the approval of project, which was estimated to cost Rs 200 crores and would be completed in shortest possible time but exact duration of completion of the project will be given in the DPR (Detailed Project Report).
Asserting that the project will benefit three North Indian States, Dr Singh said it would be more beneficial to Jammu and Kashmir as it will provide high quality road network to remote areas of Mahanpur, Basohli in Kathua district and Dhar Road.
Official sources said the initial proposal drafted by the Union Ministry for Road and Surface Transport mooted connecting Punjab from Lakhanpur-Thein Dam-Mahanpur-Basohli-Dunera. Dunera is the last town of Punjab, bordering Jammu and Kashmir and will link major districts of Punjab including Pathankot, Gurdaspur and Amritsar with the new road.
The new road will link Banikhet in Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh through Dhar Road of Jammu, which will also have road access to Lakhanpur-Dunera road, sources said, adding the road project has been designed in such a way that people of all three bordering States of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Punjab will get inter-State connectivity by road.
“Though all three States already have easy access to each other’s territory but the new inter-State connectivity will give them single connecting road,” sources said, adding the connectivity has been made possible due to construction of bridge over river Ravi.
Sources said the new inter-State road connectivity will give boost to religious tourists as various villages and towns will be connected to good road network up to Amritsar in Punjab and Katra in Jammu. It will also boost tourism in Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh, which have vast potential of tourism, which is generally affected by poor road infrastructure.
According to sources, the Government would soon submit DPR to the Union Ministry for Road and Surface Transport for formal approval to inter-State road connectivity project. The project will be completely funded by the Central Government and the State Government was not required to give any share for the project, they said, adding that the foundation stone for the project would be shortly laid by Union Minister for Surface Transport Nitin Gadkari himself.
Follow our WhatsApp channel