*Tourism to get major boost in State
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, June 24: In a significant attempt to boost road network in border State of Jammu and Kashmir, where road connectivity in hilly areas is very poor, the Central Government today cleared road projects worth Rs 20,000 crores for the State, which would be completed in next two and a half years.
Road projects worth Rs 20,000 crores for Jammu and Kashmir were part of a total of Rs 60,000 crores projects approved today by Union Minister for Road, Transport and Highways Nitin Jairam Gadkari.
Ladakh, the most backward region of Jammu and Kashmir, which badly suffered from poor road connectivity has got an important share in road network.
An official communication accessed by the Excelsior revealed that out of Rs 60,000 crores worth road projects cleared for entire country, Gadkari has given lion’s share of Rs 20,000 crores worth road projects i.e. one third of total projects to Jammu and Kashmir.
In a bid to fast track highway construction, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has approved over Rs 40,000 crore worth of projects for States other than J&K and set an ambitious target of building 30 kms of roads per day.
The projects approved for Jammu and Kashmir included 2-laning and 4-laning of National Highways and important road projects in Leh and Kargil districts of Ladakh, which were aimed at ensuring all weather road connectivity to Ladakh region, where essential commodities had to be dumped during summer as Srinagar-Leh National Highways remained closed for six months during winter.
The Union Road Transport and Highways Ministry would coordinate with Public Works Department (PWD) of the Jammu and Kashmir Government for construction of these projects.
“The Government of India will set up a new highway network in Jammu and Kashmir and will invest Rs 6,000 crore for that,” sources said.
Sources said the Government of India proposed construction of strategic roads in all border areas of Jammu and Kashmir including those connecting International Border (IB), Line of Control (LoC) and Line of Actual Control (LAC) with Pakistan and China to ensure easy access to security forces to the borders.
“Under the project, all major National Highways and road in Jammu and Kashmir State would be improved and converted into two-lanes and four lanes respectively,’’ sources said.
They added that Gadkari has set a target of two and a half years for completion of all road projects approved today by him for Jammu and Kashmir and other States.
Funds have also been made available for some of the projects, which were mainly stuck due to reasons such as land acquisition and environment and forest clearance issues.
“Work on all the projects, approved today by the Gadkari’s Ministry, would be up and running in the next three months as the Ministry is trying to get faster clearances,’’ sources said.
They added that the road projects in Jammu and Kashmir would give a major boost to tourism in all three regions of the State—Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh as the Government of India had reports that some tourist spots especially in Jammu and Ladakh regions couldn’t be explored due to bad condition of roads.
“Within three months, we will start work on those projects and preparation of DPRs (Detailed Project Reports) has already started,” sources said, adding Gadkari today directed top brass of his Ministry for Road Transport and Highways to ensure that works were started and completed in time.
They said Gadkari was aggrieved with the performance of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) and has, therefore, declared that the entity will now be given work after the Government completes its performance audit.
“Yes, there are difficulties but BRO was given the task considering they would perform under difficult situation. The Ministry is not satisfied with the BRO performance and has asked the Road Transport Secretary to undertake their performance audit and after they only, they will be given the work,’’ sources said.
The Ministry has asked all the States to encourage local contractor for work within the region. It has also asked the State Government to regularly monitor the construction works once it sets in.
Sources said apart from widening of highways and all major roads in three regions of the State—Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh, the Government of India has also given major focus on border roads with Pakistan and China to give easy access to security agencies.
Sources said the Gadkari’s Ministry has also set target of construction of 30 kilometers road a day during next two years.
PTI adds from New Delhi:
Apart from Jammu and Kashmir, Gadkari has also cleared similar road projects for Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Northeastern region.
“Within three months, we will start work on those projects and preparation of DPRs (detailed project reports) has already started,” Gadkari said.
“We will set up a new highway network in the state and will invest Rs 6,000 crore for that,” he said.
The government proposes to construct one-way roads in the hilly state of Himachal Pradesh.
“It is difficult to widen the existing roads, specifically between Kullu and Manali. Therefore, we have suggested that there will be one-way roads in the area,” he added.
On higher allocation for road projects in the budget, Gadkari said: “We would seek more funds from the Finance Minister.” However, he declined to share further details.
The Minister, who reviewed over 250 road projects worth about Rs 60,000 crore, said these highways are stuck, mainly due to reasons such as land acquisition and environment and forest clearance issues.
These stalled projects would be up and running in the next three months. The Ministry is trying to get faster clearances, Gadkari said.
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