Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 8: Divisional Commissioner Ramesh Kumar today reviewed the land acquisition process for the Delhi-Katra Expressway project and Akhnoor-Poonch BRO roads.
During the review, the Div Com discussed the land acquisition process and was informed that it has been mostly completed. He directed deputy commissioners of Kathua, Samba and Jammu to expedite the process for smooth execution of work. He also asked the concerned DCs to disburse the compensation amount simultaneously.
Pertinently, the Delhi-Katra expressway corridor will cover as many as 229 villages in four major districts of Jammu and Kashmir. The Expressway, in the Union Territory, will be 130 km in length with 4 packages: namely 14, 15, 16 and 17.
The 44.6 km long Package-14 starts from Balsua (district Pathankot) to Gurha Baildaran (Hiranagar, district Kathua), while Package-15 extends over 35.15 km distance from Gurha Baildaran to Raya Morh (district Samba).
Similarly, Package-16 starts extending from Raya Morh to Satwari up to the 4th Tawi Bridge in Jammu covering a distance of 19 km. It will further link with the Jammu-Akhnoor 4-lane project.
Likewise, Package-17, 33 km in length, starts from Kunjwani to Katra. Before touching Katra town, it will pass through 26 villages.
Once completed, the national capital will be connected directly to the holy town, the base camp of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi.
The Div Com also reviewed land acquisition cases of SAMPARK (Border Road Organisation) being executed in districts Rajouri and Poonch including the Akhnoor-Poonch, Rajouri-Thanamandi and other roads. He reviewed each land acquisition case pending in the districts and directed the Deputy Commissioners to complete the process of land acquisition in time.
Divisional Commissioner instructed the BRO to coordinate with respective district administrations for better cooperation and an expeditious land acquisition process.
The meeting was attended by Chief Engineer SAMPARK, Brig Tejpal Singh; Project Directors of NHAI, Site Engineers and other concerned while Deputy Commissioners along with concerned officers of Kathua, Samba, Jammu, Rajouri, Poonch and Reasi participated in the meeting through video conferencing.