Union Minister for Roads and Surface Transport has announced that his Ministry has taken up the subject of road connectivity including tunneling work in the state of Jammu and Kashmir on a massive scale that would incur expenditure to the tune of 55,000 crore rupees. The Prime Minister is scheduled to visit the State on April 2 to inaugurate the opening ceremony of Chenani – Nashri tunnel in Udhampur District.
After going through the details of the interview that discloses the plans of the Central Government for road connectivity in the State of Jammu and Kashmir, we draw the impression that the Union Government has ultimately put its finger on the precise ailment of J&K State. We may say that it is for the first time that the Centre has understood what has gone wrong in J&K and how to rectify it. In that sense, digging any number of tunnels at strategic spots in the Pir Panchal ranges not only will reduce travel time and journey hassles but will also become catalyst to close interaction among the people in all the three regions of the State. Gadkari has made a cogent and very right comment that previous Governments at the Centre did not realize the need and importance of good and comprehensive road connectivity in the State. He said the people in the US are prosperous because the US has excellent road network. Therefore, the Modi Government was determined to change the entire profile of the State and provide it with the infrastructure that is fundamental to developments in other areas. The Union Surface Ministry is contemplating a parallel National Highway between New Delhi and Katra via Amritsar in Punjab which will reduce the present 12 hour long journey to just five and half hours. The project has been approved and all requisite formalities completed except land acquisition which is underway.
We consider the State-wise road connectivity programme for the State as a decisive measure by the Union Government to break the impasse. Road is the key component of any infrastructure. With a road network project including tunnels of very strategic importance either in the Pir Panchal ranges or the Shivalak ranges are of vital importance. Road network will break centuries old isolation of the State and its remote areas. It will establish round the year link and will entirely change the roadmap of State’s economic pursuits. Extensive road network will provide employment to a large number of youth. The student community of the State will also derive much benefit out of it. But more than anything else, it is the tourist industry that will receive boost. And if we presume that tourist industry is emerging as the mainstay of economy, then no news is more heartening than that of a massive road network plan that will involve an expenditure of 55,000 crore rupees. Besides Chenani-Nashri, two more tunnels in the state will be completed this year and in all eight tunnels will change the complexion of the State. We should appreciate that the Prime Minister has put his finger on the right spot and once the initial stages of these projects are covered, there will be no stopping it half way. This state has to become a modern, prosperous and forward looking state in the Union.
Follow our WhatsApp channel