Excelsior Correspondent
NEW DELHI, May 11: Union Ministry for Road Transport & Highways has issued approval for the construction of crucial Chhatte-rgala tunnel along with the 170 kms Basohli-Bhaderwah-Doda road which has been declared as the new National Highway.
This information was conveyed here today to Union Minister and Member Parlia-ment from Udhampur-Kathua-Doda, Dr Jitendra Singh, who immediately expressed his gratitude to Government of India, the Union Ministry of Road Transport & Highways and special thanks to Union Minister Nitin Gadkari.
Pertinent to mention here that Dr Jitendra Singh had been following up the case consistently on day-to-day basis for the last almost three years and there were a series of separate and joint meetings held between the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, Border Roads Organization, Ministry of Defence and DGMO. Finally, it was the personal intervention of Nitin Gadkari, which helped in expediting the case and pushing it forward.
About two years back, the issue of Chhattergala tunnel was taken up by Dr Jitendra Singh with the then Defence Minister, Manohar Parrikar, following which a second feasibility study was carried out by the BRO.
Expressing his extreme happiness and satisfaction over the declaration of Basohli-Bhaderwah-Doda road as National Highway and approval of Chhattergala tunnel, Dr Jitendra Singh said, after the Keediyan-Gadhiyal bridge, this is going to be the second most important initiative in road sector to be started in Kathua region during his term as Member of Parliament. He said, even though the completion of the Chhattergala project may take over a decade, but he and his colleagues would have the satisfaction that their efforts had contributed to the making of an alternative Highway and tunnel, which would be a game changer for the future generations.
The construction of the new National Highway and Chhattergala tunnel, Dr Jitendra Singh said, will not only offer an alternative crucial road link, but would also turn a new leaf for generation of revenue, employment and trade.
As per the letter issued by the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Dr Jitendra Singh said, the 170 kms long National Highway will take off from Lakhanpur and meet the existing Batote-Doda-Kishtwar-Sinthan-Anantnag (National Highway No. 244) near Pul Doda, besides connecting the Chenab region, this will also serve as an alternative National Highway to Kashmir valley and will uplift the socio-economic conditions of the area.
About two years back, the issue of Chhattergala tunnel was taken up by Dr Jitendra Singh with the then Defence Minister, Manohar Parrikar, following which a second feasibility study was carried out by the BRO.
The highlight of the proposed 6.8 kms long Chhattergala tunnel would be that it will save the travel distance by over 26 kms and reduce the travel time by over two hours. Not only this, the tunnel would provide ensured all-weather connectivity with approach roads being straight at minimal, thus requiring no major bridges or avalanche protection structures.
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