Visit likely in third week of January
Countrywide launch of some schemes proposed
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Jan 2: Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to Jammu, which is expected in third week of this month, is likely to lay foundation of a host of projects for all three regions of the State including Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh, some of which have been declared as national projects.
Official sources told the Excelsior that a proposal has also been mooted by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) for national wide e-launch of some of the national schemes and projects by the Prime Minister from Jammu and, it was in this context, that date of Modi’s visit to the winter capital of the State, hasn’t been finalized as yet.
“The Prime Minister was likely to visit Jammu in third week of this month depending upon availability of the time,” they said, adding that discussions on countrywide launch of some of the schemes and projects of national importance was under serious consideration and, if matured, this will be for the first time that Modi will launch national level schemes from Jammu simultaneously for many other States through e-mode.
There are only few States in the country, which have enjoyed such a privilege so far, they pointed out.
Modi was likely to lay foundation stones for All India Institutes of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) for Jammu and Awantipora simultaneously, Jammu-Akhnoor-Rajouri-Poonch National Highway, Shahpur Kandi and Ujh projects, both of which have been declared as national projects, Sudh Mahadev-Pul Doda National Highway, Ladakh University, Devika Rejuvenation Plan, Indri Pattan-Pargwal bridge etc.
“Formalities for laying foundation of all these projects, which the BJP believed will be game changer for them in the upcoming Lok Sabha and Assembly elections, have been completed,” sources said, adding that majority of these projects will be executed through the Central funding with some of them having got funds under the Prime Minister’s Development Package (PMDP).
Majority of these projects were kept pending during the PDP-BJP coalition Government and it was only after imposition of Governor’s Rule in the State that work for laying foundation of these projects was taken to logical conclusion. Decks were now fully cleared for laying foundation of these projects by the Prime Minister.
Sources said after e-foundation laying of all these projects from the site proposed for construction of AIIMS and other schemes of national importance countrywide, the Prime Minister is also scheduled to address a public meeting at Vijaypur for which all arrangements were being made by the State unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Sources said the Prime Minister’s rally will also set the stage for BJP’s election campaign for Lok Sabha and Assembly also, if both the elections are held simultaneously. However, the Election Commission of India was yet to take a call on whether to hold Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir with Lok Sabha polls or defer them.
Meanwhile, sources said, Union Minister for Surface Transport, Nitin Gadkari will visit Kathua district of Jammu region on January 22 for inauguration of prestigious Keeriyan-Gandial bridge in Kathua district. Union Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), Dr Jitendra Singh, who is Lok Sabha member from Kathua-Udhampur-Doda constituency, will accompany Gadkari during inauguration of the bridge.
Significantly, foundation stone of Keeriyan-Gandiyal bridge had also been laid by Gadkari and Dr Jitendra Singh on June 26, 2015.
The bridge has been of very significance for entire Kathua district.
Dr Jitendra Singh said Kaeriyan-Gandiyal is first inter-State bridge, which has been constructed at a cost of Rs 160 crore. Construction of the bridge will meet 70 years old demand of the local people, he added.
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