Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, June 4: In a major breakthrough in promoting tourism in Bhaderwah and other parts of Chenab Valley in a big way, the Border Roads Organization (BRO) has completed survey of Bhaderwah-Chamba (Himachal Pradesh) road and now started alignment survey before initiating the multi-crore project, which will link the two neighbouring States with erstwhile Doda district and bring flow of tourists from Himachal.
This was disclosed by Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), Dr Jitendra Singh, who also holds Independent Charge of North East, Youth Services and Sports etc while addressing a mammoth public meeting at Bhaderwah town of Doda district this afternoon.
Amidst cheers from the huge crowd, Dr Singh announced that DG BRO Suresh Sharma personally led the BRO team that conduct survey on Bhaderwah-Chamba road including construction of Chakargala tunnel, which will connect not only Bhaderwah but entire Chenab Valley with Himachal Pradesh (through Chamba) and bring flow of tourists from Himachal to the picturesque Chenab Valley.
He said the BRO has now started alignment survey for Chakargala tunnel and the road, which was pre-requisite before taking up construction work on the road. Worthwhile to mention here that construction of Bhaderwah-Chamba road was over 50-year long pending demand of the people of erstwhile Doda district, which has been accepted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi led BJP Government after being taken up by Dr Jitendra Singh, who represents Doda-Udhampur-Kathua in Lok Sabha.
“Once the alignment survey of Bhaderwah-Chamba road including Chakargala tunnel is completed, work on the road, which would benefit people of erstwhile Doda district and other areas a lot, would be taken up,” the Union MoS in PMO announced much to the jubilation of local people.
Dr Singh told the gathering that the DG BRO, who had personally led the survey team of BRO has given its reports that construction of both tunnel and roads were feasible and they were now ready to take up alignment survey, which would be followed by construction of the road.
In another step to improve road connectivity in Doda district, Dr Singh said the Centre has approved Rs 50 crores for construction of Pul Doda-Bhaderwah road. He declared that work on the road project will be taken up very shortly. Presently, Pul Doda-Bhaderwah road was in very bad shape.
In addition, the Union Minister announced Rs 50 lakh from Member’s Parliament Local Area Development (MPLAD) Fund for development of Bhaderwah. Different works would be taken up for development from the MPLAD, he said.
Dr Singh, who had recently been given the Independent charge of Youth Services and Sports, announced construction of 12 Sports Stadiums in Jammu and Kashmir apart from up-gradation of two stadiums of Jammu and Srinagar to the international level.
“Out of 12 stadiums, one would be constructed in Bhaderwah,” he said, adding that names of rest of 11 towns, where the stadiums would be constructed, would be announced soon.
He said he has got approved the Receiving Station of All India Radio (AIR) to be laid at Patnitop heights to improve signal of radio network in the entire Chenab Valley. He also announced construction of Daya Krishan Kotwal memorial Community Centre at Bhaderwah and Martyrs Statue in Bhaderwah town. Kotwal was prominent BJP leader, who had served as the State BJP president.
Dr Jitendra Singh mentioned revolutionary schemes implemented by Narendra Modi Government during its two years tenure, which have benefitted the common man a lot.
Listing the schemes before the public, he said the schemes which Modi Government introduced and implemented in just two years hadn’t been even imagined in the past 60 years.
“The benefits of these schemes have now started reaching the people including the common man,’’ he said.
Minister of State for Transport (Independent Charge) Sunil Sharma, BJP MLAs from Bhaderwah and Doda-Dileep Parihar and Shakti Parihar and BJP district president Manjit Razdan were also present and addressed the rally.
Later, Dr Singh directed the Deputy Commissioner Doda to take up Lift Irrigation Schemes for Bhaderwah under NABARD.
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