Excelsior Correspondent
Jammu, July 15: The Battal bridge, constructed by `Project Sampark’ of the Border Roads Organisation on road Kappagala – Battal in Akhnoor tehsil of J&K, was dedicated to the service of the nation today.
The bridge was inaugurated by Lt Gen DS Hooda, General Officer Commanding White Knight Corps, the chief guest on the occasion. Maj Gen Rustam Patnaik, SM, VSM, General Officer Commanding Crossed Swords Division and Umesh Mehta, Chief Engineer, `Project Sampark’ were also present during the inauguration ceremony.
The Battal bridge will greatly assist in the furtherance of the socio-economic development of the area, and will also serve the needs of the Armed Forces formations deployed in the far-flung and remote areas of the region. The bridge has been completed within a time-span of three and a half years, inspite of extreme difficult working conditions, and the highly unpredictable behavior (course) of the River Munawar – Tawi. The completion cost of the 220 Mtr bridge comprising four spans, is Rs 12.5 crore.
The `Project Sampark’ was raised on January 1, 1975, and is committed to the construction, improvement and maintenance of the strategic road network of border districts of Jammu and Kashmir, South of the Pir Panjal Range, and plays a vital role in the socio-economic development of the region.
The project ensures the road connectivity in the Area of Responsibility, even in the harshest of weather in peak winter season. For this herculean task of maintenance of communication links, the men and machinery of the Project, are deployed for snow clearance works non-stop day and night, as required.
The Project Sampark also played a vital role in the re-habilitation tasks, during the rescue and relief efforts launched on a massive scale, following the recent natural calamity in Uttarakhand which had wreaked havoc and caused widespread death and destruction. For this mission, the Project Sampark had moved men and machinery such as: Dozers, Excavators, Load Carriers etc. Notably, the project had also air-lifted fixed bridges of class III overnight, for ensuring connectivity for the evacuation of stranded pilgrims.
The Project Sampark constantly strives to live up to its motto: “Safe Roads, Safe Lives”.
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