* Urges construction of Sadhna, Razdan Pass Tunnels
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 11: Apni Party president Altaf Bukhari today emphasized the need for improved road connectivity between the different regions of Jammu and Kashmir and said that such connectivity is vital to fostering stronger bonds among the people from different regions and creating new avenues for economic growth and development.
Bukhari made these remarks while addressing a press conference at the party office in Gandhi Nagar, Jammu today. He expressed his gratitude to Nitin Gadkari, the Union Minister for Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH), and praised him for his dedication to building a strong network of roads and highways to connect India from Kanyakumari to Kashmir.
“Gadkari’s mission has been a resounding success, and he will be remembered for his significant contributions to the country as the Minister for Road Transport & Highways,” he said.
“We are grateful to him for providing timelines for several ongoing projects. Most importantly, we applaud his announcement about the construction of the long-awaited Peer Ki Gali tunnel on historic Mughal Road. The construction of this important tunnel has been a long-standing demand of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, and a promise made by the Central Government in 2015, ” Bukhari added.
He highlighted the significance of the Jammu-Srinagar Highway, which is currently the only surface link connecting the valley to the rest of the country. He stressed the need to establish a task force to monitor the progress of the work on this crucial road.
“Although Gadkari has been focusing on the Srinagar-Jammu Highway, I request the establishment of a task force to monitor the pace of work on a weekly basis, ensuring the project’s swift completion,” he said.
Regarding the importance of the ongoing construction of the Zojila Tunnel, the Apni Party president said, “The Zojila tunnel holds great significance in terms of defense requirements. However, for the common people, this tunnel will be a historic accomplishment, as the tunnel will play a crucial role in fostering strong bonds and ensuring continuous connectivity between the people of both regions, regardless of weather conditions.”
Bukhari also put forward some demands to the Union Minister for Road Transport & Highways urging him to prioritize the completion of pending projects as well.
“A Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the much-awaited Vailoo-Sinthan tunnel has been prepared and submitted years ago, but unfortunately, it is still pending implementation. I earnestly request the Union Minister to intervene in this matter and ensure that the construction of this vital tunnel begins without any further delay. The construction of this tunnel will benefit lakhs of people from the concerned areas who have been eagerly waiting for it.”
He also demanded the extension of the Delhi-Katra Express highway up to Nangali Sahib, Budha Amarnath and Shahdra Sharief. He said, “As we know that the Delhi-Katra Express Highway has a religious significance, it will be appropriate to extend this highway upto the revered places of Nangali Sahib, Budha Amarnath, Shahdra Sharief so that devotees from different faiths could get benefited from this prestigious highway.”
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