Number of roads, bridges fall in J&K, Ladakh
Road connectivity up to Zero Line on IB achieved: Dr Jitendra
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Oct 26: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will dedicate 75 projects to the nation, a number of them falling in the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, from village Shyok in Leh district of Ladakh on October 28 during which he will also review situation prevailing along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Eastern Ladakh.
Rajnath will visit Kashmir on October 27 during which he will attend Infantry Day celebrations at Budgam and review security situation on the Line of Control (LoC) with Pakistan at 15 Corps Headquarters.
Rajnath will inaugurate 75 projects including roads constructed along the International Border and LoC with Pakistan and LAC with China in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh through video conferencing. The projects are of very vital importance for the troops as well as the civilians.
Union Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) Dr Jitendra Singh in whose Parliamentary constituency of Udhampur-Kathua-Doda seven bridges are being inaugurated, will also join the function through video conferencing from New Delhi as he is camping in Uttar Pradesh.
Seven bridges scheduled for e-inauguration by the Defence Minister in Kathua district of Dr Jitendra Singh’s constituency include Jantriya, Konyali-I, Konyali-II, Chenab Badi, Pakka Kotha, Challa Nallah and Benadi.
In Jammu, Satwari-Mandal-Makwal road will be inaugurated by Rajnath Singh while three projects are scheduled for launch in the border district of Rajouri.
Commenting on inauguration of 10 percent of total projects in his Parliamentary segment, Dr Jitendra Singh remarked: “With inauguration of new roads in Kathua district, road connectivity up to Zero Line on the International Border has been achieved”.
Benadi bridge has been constructed in just 90 days by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) which is a BRO record till date while Pakka Kotha bridge, which is 181 metres long multi span bridge, has been built in 102 days. The BRO has started construction of Ramban bridge on accelerated pace. Brihon bridge has been sanctioned under DGBR’s emergent powers and soon work will start there.
Apart from e-inauguration of 75 projects, the Defence Minister will also review situation prevailing in Eastern Ladakh where Indian and Chinese armies are still facing each other in some areas though disengagement has also taken place at few friction points.
Top Army Commanders will brief Rajnath Singh on the situation and operational preparedness of the troops especially during harsh winter conditions which have already started in the Union Territory of Ladakh including the Line of Actual Control.
On October 27, a day before visiting Ladakh, Rajnath Singh will be in the Kashmir valley.
He will attend Infantry Day celebrations in Budgam district. Army chief Gen Manoj Pande and Northern Command chief Lt Gen Upendra Dwivedi will also join the celebrations at Budgam.
Later, the Defence Minister will visit 15 Corps Headquarters in Srinagar where he will review situation along LoC with Pakistan and internal areas of Jammu and Kashmir especially the Valley with top Army Commanders.
He is likely to visit one or two forward posts on the LoC to meet the Army soldiers.
Infiltration along the LoC with Pakistan in the Kashmir valley as well as twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch is well under control. All major intrusion bids by the militants on the LoC have been successfully foiled by the troops.
In hinterland of the Valley, Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police and paramilitary forces have gunned down a large number of militants including top Army Commanders this year so far.