Excelsior Correspondent
ANANTNAG, Apr 11: The progress on Zojila Tunnel and other important projects including efforts to boost tourism sector in J&K were mentioned by the Union Transport & Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari in Srinagar Yesterday, sadly the Minister did not even mention the plans for construction of other important tunnels at various higher altitudes in Kashmir awaiting Govt approval since long.
“Govt of India has neglected Kapran Desa, Sadhna Top, Razdan Top, Mati Gawarn – Enshan Tunnel projects, which also happen to be equally important given their higher altitude and difficult topographies coupled with strategic defence snags due to the connectivity issues in certain areas especially Karnah and Gurez falling very close LoC,” former J&K Pradesh Congress Committee president Ghulam Ahmad Mir said today in the backdrop of a press conference addressed by Union Transport & Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari in which he explained GOIs efforts and strategies being implemented with regard to execution and completions of various developmental projects in J&K.
Former JKPCC chief expressed surprise that the Union Minister has not even mentioned Sadhana, Lolab Machil, Razdan, Matigwaran Enshan and Kapran Desa tunnel projects, which are equally significant Projects to be executed given the landscape and difficult topographies of respective areas.
Elaborating the significance of Tunnel projects, Mir said Kapran Desa Tunnel is an important project sanctioned by the UPA Govt, which connects Kashmir with Chenab Valley, but the project has been awaiting execution for a long time due to the policies adopted by Modi Govt. The Union Minister didn’t even mention this project in his presser thereby hurting the expectations of the people.
Quoting the importance of Sadhna Top connecting Kupwara with Karnah and Razdan Pass connecting Bandipora with Gurez, Mir said these too are important projects in terms of defence and other means of connectivity, but remain cut off with rest of the valley for about six months so causing huge inconvenience to common people, who get stuck during winter months.
Mir also referred to Lolab-Machil area of Kupwara district, which is a most remote and neglected, where people are living a miserable life on account of connectivity and other facilities. There was an urgent need to sanction a Tunnel for the area.
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