Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 5: With the approval of two tunnels between Sudhmahadev and Marmat and Doda-Desa-Kapran connecting Anantnag, a shortest road alternative highway will be available via Doda district for the world famous Shri Amarnathji yatra while two other important tunnels at Chattergalla on Bhaderwah-Basohli road and Sinthon (Kishtwar)-Vailoo in Anantnag are awaiting Centre’s nod.
Minister incharge R&B Abdul Majid Wani, while responding to the question of Congress Legislator Naresh Gupta said that the length of Sudhmahadev – Marmat Road was 72 kms including 2.5 km long tunnel and the cost of the project will be 925 crore.
While referring to Kapran tunnel on Doda Dessa-Kapran road, the Minister said the length of the road is 90 kms, out of which the length of tunnel will be 15 kms and the cost of the project shall be Rs 5185 crore. He claimed that with the construction of these tunnels and road, lakhs of pilgrims visiting from various parts of the country and abroad to Shri Amarnathji Yatra will have the shortest alternative road. It will also reduce the rush of the vehicles on main Jammu-Srinagar National Highway and moreover, people from Doda-Bhaderwah will have direct connectivity to Valley.
Responding to another question regarding tunnel at Chattergalla on Bani-Bhaderwah road, the Minister said feasibility study for construction of 6.8 kms long road tunnel between km 114 and 151 kms of Basohli-Bani-Bhaderwah road has been conducted by the Project BEACON in association with Snow Avalanche Study Establishment (SASE) and the report has been forwarded to Director General BRO in August 2012. The report is under active consideration and the feasibility study for framing up proposal will be conducted in next year.
To yet another question regarding status of Sinthon top-Vailoo tunnel between Kishtwar-Anantnag, Mr Wani said 10 kms long tunnel project still awaits sanction from the Central Government. Pre-feasibility study has been conducted by BRO and report has been forwarded to the Secretary Border Roads Development Board, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways in January 2013.
The Minister further claimed that Doda and Kupwara fall in priority list of the Government as both these districts have poor road connectivity. He said both Kapran tunnel on Doda-Desa road and Sudhmahadev Marmat road shall be recommended for funding under Centrally sponsored scheme. NC member from Doda Khalid Najeeb Suhrawardy also raised supplementaries.
Replying to yet another question of Congress member Sham Lal Bhagat, Mr Wani said under R&B sector 2547 road schemes are under execution in Jammu province, out of these, 552 schemes fall in erstwhile district Doda. While 220 schemes fall in Kishtwar and 135 in Ramban.
He said under PMGSY, 1040 schemes at an estimated cost of Rs 2437 crore for a length of 6682.53 kms roads were sanctioned from Phase I to IX in Jammu province. Out of 237 schemes which include 63 schemes in Ramban and 73 in Kishtwar at an estimated cost of Rs 925.61 crore for length of 650 kms were sanctioned from Phase I to IX in erstwhile district Doda, Mr Wani added.
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel