Excelsior Correspondent
NEW DELHI, Oct 8: Udhampur Superspeciality Army Hospital will start functioning next year, most likely in the early part of the year, and will be one of the North India’s biggest and most updated healthcare institutes to be set under the aegis of the Ministry of Defence.
This was disclosed here today by Union Minister of State in PMO, DoPT, Space & Atomic Energy with Independent Charge of Northeast, Dr Jitendra Singh after the Army Engineer-in-Chief (E-in-C) Lt Gen Suresh Sharma submitted a detailed review of the current status of various new projects and development works undertaken by the different wings of the Defence Ministry and Defence Forces in the State of Jammu and Kashmir.
Dr Jitendra Singh said, the new superspeciality hospital in Udhampur will not only be a major boost for the health sector at the initiative of the Indian Army, but would also offer impetus and stimulus for the civilian healthcare services to also progress at a faster pace, so that the benefits of specialized and super-specialized medical treatment could be made available even to the people living in the peripheral districts.
Gen Sharma also informed that the historic landmark project of Chhattergala tunnel pushed forward by the personal intervention and persistent efforts of Dr Jitendra Singh, has now been formally approved. It is now in the approved list of projects to be undertaken for construction, whereas before the personal intervention and efforts of Dr Jitendra Singh, it was only in the list of projects awaiting approval for future.
Dr Jitendra Singh said, the Chhattergala tunnel is, for obvious reasons, going to take quite a few years for construction to be complete, because before the construction starts, it has to go through various phases of surveys, land acquisition, etc. and it may not be easy to start the construction work immediately. However, he said, whenever it gets completed, it will prove to be a game – changer for the entire region and the journey from Doda-Bhaderwah to Basohli will be covered in just about four hours. In addition, this tunnel will also serve as an all-weather alternative connectivity for the new National Highway, he said.
Dr Jitendra Singh was informed that meanwhile, BRO has undertaken the upgradation and construction of the Manali-Leh road which is also likely to be completed next year.
In a major relief for the Defence and Army Personnel of all ranks, Gen Sharma informed Dr Jitendra Singh that a comprehensive housing project for married accommodation is being shortly launched in different pockets of the State. This will have a special significance for the Defence personnel deployed in the militancy areas by providing accommodation to their families at nearby locations. The construction of these new apartments will be based on new technology and would be carried out in a time-bound manner.
In the review , Gen Sharma also referred to Rs 500 crore project for upgradation of Air-fields at Leh and Thoise. Meanwhile, the Avantipur Airfield is also being upgraded.
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