![Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh being briefed by National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) Member (Projects) Anand Kumar Singh, on Thursday. Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh being briefed by National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) Member (Projects) Anand Kumar Singh, on Thursday.](https://cdndailyexcelsior.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/page1-2-4.jpg)
Excelsior Correspondent
NEW DELHI, Oct 4: Kathua is all set to earn yet another distinction of being the first town in the State of Jammu & Kashmir where a “Highway Village” will be brought up, as a part of a unique new plan, the first-of-its-kind in India, envisaged by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).
Disclosing this here today after a briefing by the officials of NHAI, Dr Jitendra Singh said, it is a matter of pride that one of the first such structures to be brought up under the new “Highway Village” plan of NHAI will come up at Kathua.
The entire project is likely to get completed within about 13 months and a piece of land measuring about 9 acres has been identified along the main National Highway at a prime location near Kali Bari, Kathua, he informed.
Dr Jitendra Singh further elaborated that the proposed “Highway Village” complex will include a modern multiplex complex consisting of food-court / restaurants, retail arcade including shops, provisional stores, etc., Village Haat or Gram Bazar, Motel Rooms for short stay, dormitory for drivers, open-air rest area with benches and tables, toilet facilities, Baby-care rooms, Children’s play area, fuel station including air filling station, car washing, puncture repair and pollution check, car / bus parking, first-aid facility, Internet facility, ATM facility, etc. All these facilities, he said, will be available at cost-effective rates.
Following the briefing by the NHAI authorities, an audio-conference was arranged between the NHAI Member (Projects) Anand Kumar Singh and Deputy Commissioner Kathua, Rohit Khajuria. It was decided that NHAI will immediately go in for the procedure to take over the possession of the 10 acre land identified by the district authorities.
In addition, it was also decided that if the District Authorities could arrange additional land besides this 9 acres land already identified, it could be used for setting up further facilities like, for example Conference Room, Conventional Center or a Commercial Tower. The Deputy Commissioner Kathua expressed confidence that he will soon be able to arrange additional land as well.
Not only the proposed “Highway Village” will provide ease of travel, Dr Jitendra Singh said, in the days to come, it is likely to emerge as an attractive tourist destination for the visitors entering the State of Jammu & Kashmir from the Punjab side, on their way to Jammu and further destinations as well as thousands of pilgrims arriving for Mata Vaishno Devi darshan and Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra.