Excelsior Correspondent
NEW DELHI, June 14: Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh today reviewed the progress of two new landmark national road projects in erstwhile district Doda, namely the Khellani-Goha-Sudhmahadev road project and the Bhagwa-Lal Daraman road project, at a joint meeting with senior officials of (National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited) (NHIDCL) and Border Roads Organization (BRO).
The Minister was informed that the survey is complete on the Khellani-Goha-Sudhmahadev road project and the work can be started any time now. The proposed total road length from Sudhmahadev to Khellani bypass Tunnel is about 30.58 kms while the proposed total road length from village Goha to Khellani bypass Tunnel is about 20 kms. The proposed total road length from Sudhmahadev to village Goha is about 15 kms.
It was further stated that the travel time from Khellani to Sudhmahadev via the new proposed road would be about 41 minutes . Similarly, the travel time from Khellani to village Goha via the new proposed road would be about 27 minutes.
There are tunnel portals being constructed along the new proposed road. The distance of tunnel portal to Sudhmahadev is about 3.5 kms, the distance of tunnel portal to Gorkarn Temple is about 2.5 kms and distance of tunnel portal to Gaurikund temple is about 1.8 kms. The western portal location of tunnel 1 which will be 5.40 kms long, is approximately 18 kms from Chenani Town, while Tunnel 2 will be about 2.71 kms.
Dr Jitendra Singh said, this project will not only provide an alternative Highway, but would also create new avenues of livelihood, tourism, revenue and business. In addition, some of the remotest villages in this far-flung area will get the benefit of road connectivity of the latest and highest standards, he added.
Former J&K Minister and MLA Doda, Shakti Parihar, who also attended the meeting, offered some suggestions regarding the alignment of the proposed new road. It was decided that senior officers of NHIDCL, accompanied by Shakti Parihar, will visit the exact site at village Goha on the 17th of this month for an on-the-spot assessment and decision regarding this.
With the BRO officials, Dr Jitendra Singh took up the proposed project of Bhagwa-Lal Draman Defence road. He said, he has written to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh requesting him for the upgradation of priority in respect of this road, so that the execution of work can be started at the earliest.
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