Dr Jitendra, Omar compliment Modi, Gadkari
Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, Apr 14: In a remarkable development for Jammu and Kashmir, the Union Government has granted approval for construction of key tunnel projects on National Highway-244 in Union Territory, to be constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 9779. 42 crore bringing major relief to people in the districts of Doda, Kishtwar, Udhampur in Jammu region and Anantnag in Kashmir Valley.
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As per the details available with the Excelsior, the two key tunnel projects which have been approved in a meeting of Public Investment Board (PIB) Ministry of Finance Government of India on a proposal of Ministry of Road Transport and Highways included construction of Uni- Directional Twin Tube Sudhmahadev -Dranga Tunnel in Udhampur district of Jammu region with a total length of 12.85 kilometres including 2 L+PS approaches) and twin Tube Singhpora -Vailoo Tunnel joining Kishtwar district of Jammu with South Kashmir district of Anantnag having a total length of 38.61 kms including 2L+ PS approaches on NH 244. The meeting which was held recently in Union Capital was informed that the two projects will be constructed on Engineering Procurement and Construction (EPC) Mode.
The meeting was held under the chairmanship of Secretary, Department of Expenditure to consider the decision of Ministry of Road Transport and Highways in this regard. The meeting was informed that the need for alternative Highway has been expressed by National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and UT administration as well. The meeting was also briefed about the importance of NH 244 corridor that serves as an alternate axis to NH 44 which is vulnerable to landslides especially near Ramban.
Further, the meeting was informed that NH 244 is also an essential component for upcoming long term plans related to Hydro Projects (Indus Water Treaty) including Ratle on Chenab river, Pakal Dul on Marusudar river, Kiru, Kwar, and Dulhasti all on Chenab river. Moreover NH -244 is the only National Highway to connect Doda and Kishtwar districts and these sensitive regions require good road connectivity.
Besides, on background of realignment of NH -244 done in 2015 due to other technical difficulties and persisting sinking problems at about 21 locations on Batote -Khellani stretch due to its periphery with Baglihar dam reservoir, the meeting was informed that the new alignment is 14.56 km shorter as well as avoiding sinking area. It was also submitted that the Prime Minister , Narendra Modi had announced Prime Minister’s Development Package (PMDP) for reconstruction plan of J&K in 2015 involving an outlay of Rs 80,086 crore which included up gradation and widening of Chenani-Sudhmahadev -Goha road on NH 244 including tunnels.
With this decision, a long pending demand of the people of the UT has been met as new tunnel projects will act as alternative road to NH 44 joining Jammu region to Kashmir Valley. The project will be constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 9,779.42 crore.
Union Minister of State in PMO Jitendra Singh termed the approval as “heartening news” for the region and said it puts to rest all rumours regarding the project being shelved.
He expressed gratitude to Prime Minister, Narendra Modi for consistently prioritising development in Jammu and Kashmir, besides complimenting the Road Transport and Highways Minister, Nitin Gadkari.
Dr Jitendra Singh said that he has been pursuing this project since 2014 to have an alternative Highway and earlier the tenders were issued but due to some technical reasons they were cancelled. However, now the project has been revived setting all the rumours floated by some vested elements to rest.
He said the project will link those areas in erstwhile Doda district which too did not have road connectivity and reaffirmed the Modi Government’s commitment to development of far flung and hitherto neglected areas by previous regimes.
Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah also welcomed the approval, describing it as a major step towards strengthening road connectivity and boosting economic growth in the hilly districts of the Union Territory.
Omar Abdullah has expressed heartfelt gratitude to Prime Minister, Narendra Modi and Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari for their support and approval of the Sudhmahadev-Dranga and Singhpora-Vailoo tunnel projects on NH-244.
The Chief Minister said that these vital infrastructure projects will significantly strengthen connectivity, ensure all-weather access, and accelerate economic growth across the Chenab Valley and adjoining regions.
Recalling his earlier intervention, the Chief Minister said that in June last year, he had written to the Prime Minister and the Union Minister highlighting delays in the projects and seeking their urgent consideration. He had urged that the projects be taken up under the NH (O) Scheme of the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways on priority to ensure their timely completion in line with the broader vision for the development of Jammu & Kashmir and the nation.
In his communication, the Chief Minister had also expressed concern that while other NH Projects on NH-244 were progressing under NHIDCL, delays in these two critical tunnels were impeding the expected socio-economic benefits for the Chenab region and hindering its efforts to overcome economic backwardness.
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