Gadkari’s Highway Projects: Beginning of a New Dawn in J&K

BY: RAMNEEK MANHAS

Four things are necessary for the progress of any nation, viz. electricity, water, transport and most importantly road infrastructure. To give more prominence to road infrastructure, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari along with Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh, L.G. Manoj Sinha and M.P. Jugal Kishore Sharma on November 24th laid the foundation stone of 25 new highway projects worth Rs 11,721 crores in Jammu and Kashmir. Experts believe that these projects are strategically important for the agricultural, industrial, tourism and socio-economic progress of the region as well as faster movement of Indian defense forces.

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari while addressing the mammoth gathering at the Sports Stadium, Doda in Jammu and Kashmir said these National Highway projects will provide impetus to the travel and tourism sector and also generate employment opportunities for the people in the Union Territory.

“The construction of these road projects will save time and fuel. J&K has a huge tourism potential which will finally reap the benefits of upcoming modern road infrastructure projects.

New employment opportunities will be created, tourism of the region will get a boost, and social and economic development of the people of the region will be accelerated”.

Taking it further, Mr. Nitin Gadkari said that “Central Government is committed to the all-round development of the Union Territory, and within the next two years, the work of a road network of Rs 1 lakh crore will give a socio-economic boost and prove as an important lifeline for the development of the industrial sector too” he added.

Addressing the gathering, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha expressed his gratitude to the Union Minister for laying the foundation of these mega projects and taking a keen interest in continuous strengthening of road infrastructure across the region.

On the occasion, Sinha also secured the inclusion of six more road projects for Jammu and one project for Kashmir division under the National Highways and Bharatmala category. The inclusion of six Road projects in the Jammu division will give a massive push to the economic growth and industrial development, besides tapping the tourism potential in the region.

These newly included road projects are: Kathua-Basholi-Bani-Bhaderwah-Doda (170 KM); Doda-Bhaderwah-Chamba (Himachal Road) (132 KM); Dayalachak-Challan-Billawar-Mahanpur-Basohli (118 KM); Tawi Bridge-Jammu Airport-Miran Sahib-R.S.Pura Suchetgarh (Old Jammu-Sialkot Road) (29 KM); Surankote-Bafliaz-Shopian-Srinagar (Mughal Road) (145 KM); Atholi (Kishtwar)-Machail-Zanskar Road (Kargil); Narabal-Tangmarg-Gulmarg-Baramulla (70 KM).

Union Minister and local MP Dr.  Jitendra Singh also addressed the gathering and described it as a historic day for this region because as many as 25 new NH projects are being launched. “Central government has framed a separate road map for the development of the union territory and to accelerate the developmental scenario, new bridges, roads, tunnels are being built on war footing involving thousands of crores”. “The present dispensation has established a new political culture by executing projects as per the demands and requirements of the people to ensure equitable and inclusive development in Jammu and Kashmir.” He added.

After the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, the execution of new roads, tunnels and other basic Infrastructure has gained a huge push to ensure the overall development of Jammu and Kashmir. Central government headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is assertively focusing to the areas which were neglected in the last seven decades by the earlier governments. In that case it would not be wrong to say Gadkari’s new highway projects for J&K, is a beginning of a new era.