‘Rail, other projects of connectivity will turn game changer for region’
Avtar Bhat
UDHAMPUR, May 3: Union Minister in PMO with Independent charge of Ministries of Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, Dr Jitendra Singh today said that Narendra Modi Government is committed to development of remote and hitherto neglected and far flung areas of J&K.
Talking to reporters here today on the sidelines of a public darbar, Dr Jitendra Singh said it was due to this commitment of Modi Government that Udhampur continued to be among India’s three top performing districts in PMGSY implementation in the entire country.
He said soon after the Modi Government came to power in 2014, main focus was laid to development of remote and backward areas in the country and Kathua, Udhampur –Doda constituency which is spread over a huge hilly area received top attention from the Government for development.
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Dr Jitendra Singh said connectivity wise Udhampur got top priority and very soon the airport which was a long pending demand of the people of the district will become functional.
The Union Minister said besides, the Expressway Corridor linking Katra township with Delhi via Amritsar will also become functional within next six months and this will prove a game changer for entire region. With the construction of Expressway Corridor Udhampur, people will get facility of road travel to Delhi in six hours.
Likewise with Vande Bharat stop at Udhampur, the travel time to Srinagar will be reduced to three to four hours only and people in coming days will have multiple options to travel to Delhi and Srinagar.
Dr Jitendra Singh also reviewed the arrangements for upcoming holy Amarnath Ji Yatra with DIG Udhampur and Reasi and he was informed by the authorities that all arrangements are in place for the annual pilgrimage starting on July 3 this year.
He also announced Yatri transit camp from MP LAD Fund for Narsinghdev temple to provide better amenities to devotees and pilgrims.
Earlier continuing his public outreach in his Parliamentary constituency, the Union Minister held a Public Durbar at Barmeen village under Chenani Assembly segment here, during which he personally interacted with local residents and public delegations to address their concerns.
The Minister was accompanied by senior officers representing different Government departments as well as public representatives. Several issues were resolved on the spot.
This initiative is part of a series of Public Durbars regularly organized by the Minister across the Udhampur-Kathua-Doda Lok Sabha constituency, with events held not only at the district level but also at the block and Panchayat levels.
During today’s programme, Dr. Jitendra Singh engaged with several delegations from Barmeen and surrounding areas. The Minister listened to their grievances, and ensured that many issues were resolved on the spot.
Dr Jitendra Singh expressed gratitude to Prime Minister, Narendra Modi for giving the highest priority to the Udhampur–Kathua–Doda Parliamentary constituency under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY). He informed that out of the total allocation of 3,566 crore rupees for PMGSY road projects in the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir, 1,524 crore rupees have been earmarked for the Udhampur–Kathua–Doda constituency alone. This accounts for approximately 43 per cent of the total allocation, reflecting the Government’s continued focus on strengthening rural road connectivity in the region. He further noted that this trend has been consistently maintained over the past decade, underscoring sustained developmental efforts in the constituency.
Dr. Jitendra Singh emphasized the importance of authorities maintaining a direct contact with the people so that their issues are addressed in a timely manner. The Minister assured the residents that their concerns would be taken up with the relevant authorities and resolved in an expeditious manner.
Dr. Jitendra Singh reiterated his commitment to continue holding such Public Durbars, ensuring that the voices of even the most remote areas of his constituency are heard and acted upon promptly. He also encouraged local residents to continue participating in such forums, which he described as crucial to fostering transparent and responsive governance.
Earlier, addressing a gathering during Maha Satsang organised in the courtyard of historic Narsingh Mandir, Dr Jitendra Singh outlined key developmental initiatives for the area, with a focus on education, infrastructure, and preservation of heritage sites.
On the public demand for establishment of a Kendriya Vidyalaya in Ghordi, Dr. Singh stated that the district administration has been tasked with identifying a suitable site. He added that a formal proposal will be submitted to the Ministry of Education for approval once the site is finalized.
On the issue of road connectivity, Dr. Jitendra Singh informed that work is already underway to improve the road infrastructure in the region, which will enhance accessibility and facilitate local development.
Dr. Jitendra Singh emphasized the importance of authorities maintaining a direct contact with the people.
Among the public representatives, MLA Sunil Bhardwaj, district president, Arun Gupta, Rajinder Sharma, Neha Mahajan, Arti Sharma, Sarpanches and others were present.
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