Union Minister for building New, Green Jammu; running electric vehicles
Avtar Bhat
KATHUA, Jan 22: Conceiving a novel idea, Union Minister for Road Transport & Highways, Shipping, Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, Nitin Gadkari today asked the State Government to work for building a new and Green Jammu on the pattern of New Mumbai and New Delhi.
The Union Minister who dedicated Rs 150 crore inter-State Keerian Gandyal bridge over river Ravi near here to nation this afternoon along with State Governor, Satya Pal Malik and Union Minister in PMO, Dr Jitendra Singh said “I asked both Governor and Dr Jitendra Singh to furnish a proposal in this regard so that the new and green Jammu which will be pollution free can be established on the pattern of New Mumbai and New Delhi”. Advisor to Governor, K K Sharma and Chief Secretary, BVR Subrahmanyam were also present on the occasion.
Gadkari, while unfolding various developmental projects including Highways, bridges and tunnels in road sector undertaken in the State by his Ministry during last five years of Narendra Modi Government also asked the State Government to run electric vehicles in Jammu and Srinagar cities which will be cost effective, environment friendly and save fuel consumption also. He declared that his Ministry will provide all help and support in this regard and J&K having a lot of potential for generating electricity can utilize the same for running electric buses and other vehicles also.
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He asked the Government to use new technology in the cities of Jammu and Srinagar and make them pollution free also.
The Minister, while congratulating the State Government, engineers and contractors for constructing a 1210-meter span-Keerian Gandyal bridge over the river Ravi before the time span by saving crores of rupees also said that the officers who work with dedication and honesty deserve reward while those who are dishonest and lazy need punishment.
The Minister also gave full credit to Union Minister, Dr Jitendra Singh with whose efforts, he said the bridge was constructed. “I too was forced to take personnel interest in getting it sanctioned”, he added.
He, while referring to Shahpur Kandi Project, said that an agreement was signed between J&K and Punjab Governments in this regard and the project has become a reality after 40 long years. This way the water of three Indian rivers which was the share of our country as per Indus Water Treaty was flowing to Pakistan. Now with the signing of agreement the water will be utilized by the people of the two States of J&K and Punjab. He said 90 percent funds for the construction of Shapur Kandi will be provided by Centre while the two states have to bear only 10 percent.
Gadkari said the work on project will begin soon after the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi inaugurates it on February 3.
Gadkari said that the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi led Government had set a new mark in timely delivery of public goods by completing various projects on or before time. He said that the Government was focused on providing corruption free and transparent governance to the people without compromising quality.
Gadkari said that the project would benefit over 2,20,000 people living on the two sides – Kathua in Jammu and Pathankot in Punjab and would reduce the distance between the two cities from 45 kms to 8.6 kms saving time and fuel cost.
While giving details about the projects launched in Jammu and Kashmir by the his Ministry, Gadkari said that the National Highway network in Jammu and Kashmir had seen an increase of 969 kms in the last four years. The total length of NHs in the State was 1695 kms in 2014, which had gone up to 2664 kms in 2018. Number of NHs had also gone up from seven to 14 in the meantime. He informed the audience that new NHs of 969 kms was announced during the period. He said that in addition to these, four State roads of 400 kms had also been approved in the State.
He said that under the Prime Minister’s Development Package (PMDP) for J&K announced on November 7 in 2015, the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways was executing 16 projects worth Rs 45,107 crore through NHAI, NHIDCL, State PWD and BRO. Of these, works worth Rs 30,000 crore have already started. NHAI was executing eight projects worth Rs 14,987 crore, NHIDCL/BRO – six projects costing Rs 24120 crore, and PWD – two projects for Rs 6,000 crore. He further said that two major road corridors were being built in J&K- Jammu-Srinagar and Srinagar-Leh. The Chenani-Nashri tunnel road under the first was the largest highway tunnel in the country that had resulted in reducing the travel time between Jammu and Srinagar by two and a half hours, while the distance between the two had come down by 30 kms. He added that the tunnel was benefitting people by way of making travel possible throughout the year and saving of up to Rs 27 lakh worth fuel on the route.
The Minister also made a mention of the Zojila Tunnel for connecting Srinagar with Leh that would be Asia’s longest 14.2 km long two-lane tunnel that would prove to be a milestone all weather roads in the forward region. This strategically important tunnel would drastically reduce the travel time from three and a half hours to just 15 minutes.
He said though the contractor has abandoned the work but Government will soon try to find an alternative to it.
He further informed the audience that about 26 per cent work of Rs 6,808 crores Z-turn tunnel and approach road on NH-1 has been completed on Srinagar-Leh Corridor.
Giving details about the Ring Road Project in the State, Gadkari said that a 62-km long 4-lane ring road was being constructed in the Srinagar city at the cost of Rs 1,860 crore that starts from Ganderbal on NH-44 and ends at Vayul on NH-1D. He informed that the road would connect 54 villages in six districts. He further informed that about 25 per cent work on the 58.255 km 4-lane Jammu Ring Road had been completed. The total cost of the project was Rs 1,891 crore and it would involve construction of eight major bridges, 22 minor bridges, six flyovers, and two tunnels of 770 meters and 710 meters respectively.
While addressing the audience, State Governor, Sayta Pal Malik said that through Centre’s support it was being assured that no projects are left incomplete in the State and that people are able to take the benefit of these projects.
He complimented Gadkari and Dr. Jitendra Singh and observed that the inter-State Keerian- Gandiyal bridge on Ravi river will provide better connectivity to disconnected villages of the State with Punjab and boost economic development of the region.
The Governor also complimented Gadkari for his intervention in the revival of Shahpur- Kandi project which will significantly enhance the irrigation potential of the State. He said the project which was delayed for last 40 years was revived by his Government in half an hour after singing the agreement for the greater good of the people of the State.
Malik observed that to give boost to developmental activities and complete the languishing projects across the State, Jammu and Kashmir Infrastructure Development Finance Corporation (JKIDFC), has been established with an authorization to raise loans up to Rs. 8000 Crore.
Union Minister, Dr Jitendra Singh in his address said that the completion of various infrastructure projects in the State was a manifestation of the slogan of ‘Sankalp Se Siddhi’ given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He said that through the completion of the developmental projects in the State, had become a part of the development journey of the nation that is to continue in the years to come. He informed the audience that the bridge has been constructed at a cost much lower to the estimated cost leading to a saving of Rs 16 crore and the project has been completed ahead of time.
He said with the construction of the bridge a 70 year old dream of the people of the area was fulfilled by linking the two secluded Panchayats of Kathua to district headquarter. Dr Jitendra Singh reiterated that the developmental projects which the previous governments failed to take up in hand during 65 years of their rule were completed by Modi Government in five years.
“Had Modi not been PM and Gadkari as Minister of Roads, the bridge would not have become a reality,” he added.
He mentioned about the various projects that have been completed or are in the pipeline in Kathua like first Highway Mart in the State, Medical College, Bio-Tech Park and Passport Office all of which were completed in last five years. He, while turning tables on opposition parties in finding fault in every good work done by Modi Government said “we did not do that which they did during their tenure”. Without naming any party, he said, “we did not indulge in scams, loot, built mansions, indulge in land grabbing etc but worked for the welfare of country and its people”,
Divisional Commissioner, Jammu Sanjeev Verma was also present in the function.
The welcome address was given by Commissioner Secretary Works while the vote of thanks was proposed by D C Kathua, Rohit Khajuria.
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