From the very first day when the NDA Government assumed power, the Ministries of Railways and of Road Transport and Highways made it sufficiently clear that they were seriously concerned with connectivity infrastructural development in the State of Jammu and Kashmir firstly owing to the State being a border state with China and Pakistan and secondly connectivity was going to play a very significant role in the economic development of the state. There is thinking within the policy planning circles in New Delhi that one of the important reasons of emergence of militancy in the State is lack of adequate economic development and absorption of the youth in developmental activities. In a hilly state like Jammu and Kashmir surface transport and connectivity play the crucial role for economic development. Moreover, security sensitivity has impressed upon policy planners that road and rail connectivity in the State need to be treated on high priority.
In this background the Army, which has a major stake in road connectivity for transport of men and material, had identified 14 strategic railway lines two of them in Ladakh bordering China. It has to be noted that China has already brought rail connection right up to border on their side in Xinjiang region. Our country has already covered Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal borders through the rail link. Border with China in Ladakh remains to be covered and for that Final Location Survey (FLS) is scheduled to be undertaken very shortly on Bilaspur-Mandi-Manali-Leh line. The Army has laid emphasis on early laying of rail line that connects Ladakh region with the rest of the country. This rail connectivity has been prioritized as the Army is required to transport heavy machines and equipment along the long tortuous road to the farthest point on border with China in Ladakh.
In a high powered meeting chaired by the Governor, it was told that the Border Roads Organization (BRO) has been constructing 40 all weather dependable roads along the International Border (IB) with Pakistan and Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China and other areas in planned and phased manner to provide all weather connectivity to security forces. At present BRO has 40 roads of 2970.62 Km length under construction / up-gradation and additional 13 roads of length 282.49 Km under maintenance only to provide connectivity to the border areas in Ladakh region. We learn that an operational committee in the Ministry of Railways has been constituted to monitor time line for FLS. For road networks various initiatives at functional level are undertaken by BRO to expedite the infrastructure development. In a recent meeting the Governor has told the Director General of Border Roads Organization to prepare Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) and feasibility reports for six tunnels in Jammu and Kashmir to connect strategic and remote areas with rest of the State throughout the year. The tunnels included Chattergala along Bani-Bhaderwah road, Rajdhan to connect Bandipore-Gurez, Sadhna in Chowkibal-Tanghdar road, Z-Gali in Machhil sector and Fadkiyanwali Gali in Kupwara. BRO is already engaged in constructing Rohtang tunnel in Himachal Pradesh to provide all weather road connectivity in Ladakh region.
BRO has been engaged in building various roads in the State. However, owing to some technicalities, the BRO had been forced to slow down its road building work because of fulfillment of some pre-requisites. Most of the bottlenecks have been removed and the Governor has issued instructions to the concerned authorities to ensure that all bottlenecks hindering expeditious functioning of the BRO have to be removed. He was happy to know that BRO has re-vitalized its task and that augurs well for the State. It is satisfying to note that in the meeting the entire road network progress was reviewed and the concerned authorities were able to apprise the Governor of the current status of various road links that are under construction or upgrading at the moment. Two important issues connected with the road building projects were also brought under discussion. These are clearance certificate from Forest Department and acquisition of private land from their owners. The Governor issued instructions that these cases need to be expedited without further delay.
Better late than never, is the well-known saying. Our country has awoken to the harsh reality of having a desk book policy on northern borders especially in the light of the fact that we have two belligerent states as our immediate neighbours who are not on good terms with us. This should have made our policy planners think ahead of actual events that take shape on day to day basis. Nevertheless, the NDA Government has realized the necessity and urgency of having a network of all weather roads in Jammu and Kashmir as strategic need and has therefore granted liberal grants for the tunneling, widening of the National Highway, four laning it and bridging in railway connectivity to the farthest nook of the state. We are hopeful that the next mega project before the Railway Minister will be the Jammu – Poonch 242 km long strip over which the railway must run now.
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