Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 25: Minister for R&B, Abdul Majid Wani today informed the House that the State Government has prepared a preliminary project for widening and upgradation of Kargil-Zanskar road at an estimated cost of Rs. 1015.26 crore and submitted the same to Ministry of Road, Transport & Highway (MORTH) for approval and funding which is awaited.
The Minister was replying to a question by Aga Syed Ahmad Rizvi in Legislative Council today.
The Minister said that the Kargil-Zanskar road has been declared by Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways as National Highway-301. He said the construction/development of this road is to be funded by Union Ministry of Road, Transport & Highways.
Replying to another question of Khalid Najeeb Suhrawardy, the Minister informed the House that the department has formulated an inception report for construction of unconnected roads from Doda-Dessa-Kapran to Verinag and recommended it to the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MORTH) for consideration and declaration as National Highway.
He further said that the proposed road shall also include a tunnel of 15 km length and once the road is declared as National Highway, the MORTH shall be able to take further action in the matter.
The Minister said that there are proposals for further upgradation of Doda-Dessa, Khellani-Marmat and Dada-Gundna road while widening work are under execution. He said these roads have also been proposed under PMGSY Phase-X and the DPRs stand submitted to Union Ministry for approval and funding for which sanction is awaited.
To a yet another question by Jugal Kishore, the R&B Minister said that some commercial establishments which come under the alignment of either side of National Highway from Jammu to Udhampur section have been removed. The compensation is being provided for the land and structures being acquired for widening of the National Highway under provisions of the Land Acquisition Act.
The Minister informed that with the construction of Chanani Nashri Tunnel, the existing localities of Kud, Patnitop and Batote will be bypassed, however, 59 business establishments are coming up under widening of National Highway at Suketar and Jhajjarkotli (District Jammu).
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