Modi Government, like the Government of Atal Bihari Vajpayee is giving deserved importance to the improving and spreading of road network in the country, connecting new destinations and widening the existing roads and building Express Ways. In our vast country, there is great need of building new roads that would reduce distances and time of travel. Surface Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari deserves appreciation for taking special interest in Jammu and Kashmir as a result of which a good amount out of the eighty thousand crores sanctioned for the State, is being utilized for the construction of new roads and improvement of existing roads.
In a recent development, the Centre has given nod to two new but important road connections in the country. One is Katra-Amritsar -Delhi national highway via Jind-Barnala-Moga and Amritsar. This project is estimated to cost Rs 70,000 crores and reduce the distance between Delhi and Amritsar by more than 100 kms. After completion of this project, the distance between Delhi and Amritsar will be covered in less than three hours. The other project is Jalandhar-Ajmer Expressway and its proposed alignment via Jalandhar-Moga-Bathinda and Ajmer. Hailing this expressway as a “very big boost” and a “game-changer” to the national as well as the Punjab’s economy, Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Badal said it will cut Jammu-Kandla distance by more than 600 kms. This Expressway is estimated to cost approximately Rs 80000 crores
In an overall estimation, Modi Government has paid special attention to the building of Expressways across the country. Once these projects are completed, a new India will surface on the map. In particular, our state is getting connected to the entire country through new roads and links. This connectivity was the vision of Atal Bihari Vajpayee and the present Government has taken up the thread where that Government had left it. We are happy to note that the State tourism, trade, commerce and travel activities will receive boost through these new road links,