DPR for Mughal road tunnel being prepared: Naeem

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 24: Minister for Public Works (R&B) Naeem Akhtar today  said that Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the construction of tunnel on Mughal road, to make it all weather is being formulated.
Replying to a question of NC member Dr Shehnaz Ganai in the Upper House today, the R&B Minister said that the  Government has taken up the matter for declaration of Mughal Road as National Highway and construction of a tunnel from Chattapani to Zaznar with the Centre to facilitate all-weather road connectivity between Poonch and Rajouri in Jammu and Shopian in Kashmir.
Replying to another question of Dr Ganai, the Minister said the tender for preparation of Detailed Project Report (DPR) for construction of tunnel on Mughal Road has been floated by National Highway Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) HQ at New Delhi.
Naeem further stated that  the formulation of DPR for Chenani- Sudhmahadev- Goha- Khellani- Sinthan- Khannabal road including tunnel at Goha is also in progress, while the issue of preparation of DPR for Dessa to Kapran road has been taken up with the Centre.
He also informed that the road from Jammu-Akhnoor-Rajouri Poonch has been declared as new National Highway 144-A and the  DPR for four-laning of Jammu-Akhnoor stretch has been completed and the land acquisition for the same is in progress, he added.
He also said that the work for preparation of DPR for four-laning of Akhnoor-Nowshera-Poonch road is in progress.
Replying to another question regarding Loran-Tangmarg road, the Minister said the formation cutting work on 8 km difficult stretch has been completed from Loran side while as the DPR for road from Tangmarg to Jamiawali Gali is under preparation with project Beacon. The work would be expedited and the matter for increasing the funding for the road would be taken up with the Centre, the Minister assured the House.
The Minister further informed that double-lane bridge over Mandi river has been sanctioned under CRF at the cost of Rs 11.25 crore and  the earth work for right side abutment is in progress, he added.
Naeem also said that the work on bye- pass road in Mandi Bazar and Bedar- Balnoi- Rajpura Bridge is also in progress.
The R&B Minister also assured Dr Ganai on the floor of the House that commitment and wish of Late Mufti Mohd Sayeed to complete Loran-Tangmarg road will be his Govt’s priority and for funding, he would take up the matter with the Union Government. He also assured to expedite work on it.