‘Better Indo-Pak relations cherished desire of people’
Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, June 13: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today said his party National Conference will vote for the UPA nominees for the posts of President and Vice President of the country.
“National Conference is part of the UPA Government and we will vote for Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates to be fielded by UPA coalition,” Omar told reporters after inaugurating five bridges in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district.
It is pertinent to mention here that National Conference has four MPs—three in Lok Sabha and one in Rajya Sabha—and 28 MLAs in the State Assembly. The election for the President’s post will be held on July 19.
In reply to a question, Omar said good Indo-Pak relations are the cherished desire of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. “My Government will facilitate and contribute positively in all measures aimed at bringing thaw in the ties between the two neighbours and resolving issues amicably and in peaceful atmosphere,” he added.
He said that better road connectivity in Jammu and Kashmir, predominantly possessing tough geographical terrain with scattered inhabitations in far-flung areas, has direct bearing on socio-economic well-being of the people and holistic development of the State.
“Inter-district road connectivity and alternate routes to supplement transportation, especially in winter months and rainy seasons, are all the more imperative to reach out to the people in the process of development”, he said, adding that his Government has focused attention on the development and upgradation of road communication network.
The Chief Minister said that various Central Government agencies in this sector like National High Authority of India (NHAI), BRO, BEACON, etc have been persuaded to fast track the mega projects being executed by these agencies in the State. He said that the State Government has underlined R&B sector as one of the most important five sectors to give considerable fillip to the roads and bridges sector.
“While scores of bridges have been constructed under various schemes during the last three years, the vital road links have also been constructed, upgraded and metalled to open up rural and far-flung areas for economic prosperity and employment generation”, he said and also made reference to the measures his Government has taken for construction and upgradation of inter and intra district roads and other highways in the State.
He also highlighted the importance of Anantnag-Simthen-Kishtwar road to provide alternate route to the hilly district of Kishtwar and open up cut off areas for growth and development. He said like Mughal Road, Anantnag-Simthen-Kishtwar road is yet another highway with significant importance.
The bridges which were inaugurated by the Chief Minister include 40 Meter span Arham Bridge at 140.68 kilometers of Kishtwar-Simthen-Antnatnag road completed at a cost of about Rs 1.44 crore, a bridge at Mohripora-I with 21 Meter-span completed at an expenditure of about Rs 90 lakh, another bridge namely Mohripora-II of same span costing Rs 76.49 lakh, a bridge at Hiller-I with 105 Meter span constructed at a cost of Rs 202.89 crores and Hiller-III bridge of 24 Meter span completed at a cost of about Rs 55.25 lakh.
The bridges have been constructed by the BEACON project executing the Kishtwar-Simthen-Antnatnag road. The Chief Minister had given directions for early completion of the bridges and fast tracking the road construction work in a high level meeting he had chaired to ascertain the status of various road projects being implemented by the central agencies.
Minister for Public Enterprises, Peerzada Mohammad Sayed, Parliament Member, Dr Mehboob Beg, Legislator, Dr Bashir Ahmad Veeri, Chief Engineer BEACON, Brigadier T P S Rawat and other officers of BEACON were present on the occasion.
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