Excelsior Correspondent
UDHAMPUR, Feb 21: In a major boost for Rural Infrastructure Development and strengthening village Panchayat, the first among 114 foot bridges being constructed under Project Rahat was commissioned and launched at Panchayat Hartaryan – 35KM away from Udhampur town. The bridges are being constructed under high end DRDO-HESCO technical assistance through Rural Development Department with convergence of various schemes.
These bridges are aimed at providing connectivity to schools for ensuring uninterrupted education, facilitate movement of local inhabitants and livestock; and transportation of ration. A number of lives were lost annually and thousands of students remained deprived of education in rainy season which prompted the district administration to plan of project aimed at construction of 114 bridges this financial year.
The first bridge commissioned at Hartaryan has a span of 16 Mtr and constructed with 70% funding under MGNREGA and 30% under District Innovation Fund. It will provide connectivity to three villages namely Jasarkote, Samole and Hartaryan benefitting a population of 1416 of 292 families. It will provide round the year connectivity of 3 Ration Depots of Kambal Danga, Sunari and Krimchi; and movement of livestock population of more than 350. Around 195 students of two Government Schools will be facilitated for uninterrupted attendance even in monsoon which they missed hitherto.
District Development Commissioner, Udhampur, Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary, accompanied by Asstt Commissioner Development, Joginder Singh Rai, PO DRDA Dr Jagdish Mehra, BDO Dr Pardeep, Sarpanch and staff of Project Rahat, after initial technical check, launched and commissioned the bridge which was dedicated to public especially students and Panchayat.
The bridge has been constructed with technology obtained from Defense Research and Development Organization through Dehradoon based NGO. It has weight bearing capacity of 500 Kg per Square meter and has extremely negligible maintenance cost. The bridge will be maintained by Vilage Panchayat. More than 56 bridges will be dedicated to public in next fortnight which have reached completion stage of Phase-I of Project Rahat.
A large number of projects and works have been initiated in District Udhampur for strengthening Panchayats and making them self sufficient which include construction of 114 bridges, more than 250 school and hospital buildings, massive plantation drive on State/Community Land and ground water recharge structures.
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