* Bhaderwah-Chamba road being commissioned shortly: Veeri
Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, May 3: The Union Ministry of Highways and Surface Transport has cleared the prestigious 2 km (2000 mts span) bridge over river Chenab connecting Pargwal island area of Akhnoor Sub Division, bordering Pakistan, with the Khour tehsil headquarters in Jammu district.
This prestigious longest ever bridge after Keediyan-Gandyal over Ravi (1210 mts underway) in the State, is considered as most vital in defence point of view. It is being constructed with an estimated cost of Rs 207 crore (206.91 crore) under Central Road Fund.
The project will be completed within three years. With the commissioning of this bridge, over 20,000 to 25000 population of over 22 villages of Pargwal belt will be benefitted and moreover, the defence and other security agencies vehicles will have direct connectivity to their units located in the Island area from Khour, Pallanwalla and Jourian sides besides Akhnoor Garrison.
It will also shorten the distance from Pargwal area to the tehsil headquarters- Khour, which is at present nearly 37 kms. After this bridge the distance will be reduced to nearly 5-7 kms. The people have to take route of Akhnoor and Jourian to reach Khour from Pargwal Island villages at present.
Minister for Public Works (R&B) and Parliamentary Affairs, Abdul Rehman Veeri told the Excelsior that R&B recently entrusted the construction work of this 2000 mt long double- lane concrete bridge over river Chenab between Indripattan in Khour and Narsinghpora at Pargwal side to the Jammu and Kashmir Project Construction Corporation (JKPCC). The agency has been asked to call national tenders as all other requisite formalities have been completed.
He said that earlier Army had raised some objections for the construction of this bridge at Hamirpur Kona and Pargwal, because that construction point was closer to the border (LoC). Though length of span was smaller at this point hardly 1300 mts and the cost of the project was also less but keeping in mind the suggestions from the defence authorities, the location of the bridge was shifted to upstream at Indripattan between Jourian and Khour. It was long pending demand of the people from Pargwal area and with this civilian population as well as defence units located in this border belt would be benefitted.
Veeri further disclosed that MD JKPCC, Dalip Thussoo was asked hardly couple of days back to call national tenders so that maximum bidders from various parts of the country could participate in the tender. He said it will be very important and vital bridge in every respect and we will take all the precautions.
This bridge will be longest one in the J&K State so far. Second one will be Keerian-Gandyal bridge (1210 mts span) over river Ravi, connecting Kathua district headquarters with J&K villages situated on that side of Ravi river. That bridge is being constructed under Inter-State Connectivity while Pargwal-Khour bridge under Central Road Fund, for which 100% funds will be made available to the J&K by the Centre.
Giving more details, he said two more bridge projects under CRF in district Rajouri have been cleared by the Centre. A 160 mt span bridge with the cost of Rs 16.80 crore has been cleared over Rajouri Tawi at Badala Mang, just closer to the town. Chaprian village and adjoining hamlets will have direct connectivity to Rajouri town near Jawahar Nagar, with the construction of this bridge.
The third bridge under CRF has also been cleared this year for Rajouri town over Sukha Tawi near Ashram and private Degree College. This 80 mt span bridge is being constructed with the estimated cost of Rs 6.62 crore. The work on all the bridges is being commenced shortly.
Responding to another question, R&B Minister said that 50 kms Bhaderwah- Chamba Road up to Khundi Maral (J&K-HP border) is ready and hardly 300 mtrs area is yet to be black-topped. This double lane road will provide direct connectivity to Chamba town from Bhaderwah. Some slides are being cleared by the R&B authorities and this road will be commissioned officially very soon.
This road has been constructed with the cost of Rs 70 crores under Inter State Connectivity. This road is also very important in tourist point of view. About 10 kms road on Himachal border side is not good but now HP Govt is also improving it and making double lane. The bus service is already in operational on that side in HP up to J&K border, Veeri maintained.
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