Excelsior Correspondent
RAJOURI, June 24: General secretary of BJP Jammu and Kashmir and former MLC Vibodh Gupta today said that Rajouri-Poonch is witnessing a new era of growth and transformation under the Viksit Bharat Mission, driven by key infrastructural and policy initiatives of the Modi Government.
The former MLC was addressing a press conference at the BJP office in Rajouri, accompanied by BJP district president Dev Raj Sharma and prabhari Jugal Dogra.
Vibodh highlighted the approval of a 9-km tunnel on the Mughal Road—sanctioned at a cost of Rs 3,830 crore—as a crucial step in ensuring all-weather connectivity between Rajouri and Srinagar. The project, he said, would end years of seasonal isolation, boost tourism, and open up new employment opportunities across the twin border districts.
Calling it a turning point, Vibodh said the tunnel and other planned projects are in line with the larger vision of “Viksit Rajouri-Poonch” and reflect the Modi Government’s commitment to addressing the needs of neglected regions.
He also accused previous Governments, particularly the National Conference and Congress, of decades-long neglect and broken promises concerning the Mughal Road, Scheduled Tribe (ST) status for the Pahari Tribe, and inter-district recruitment policies. “It is only under Prime Minister Modi’s leadership that these long-pending demands are finally being addressed,” he stated.
Vibodh further outlined future projects aimed at enhancing the region’s tourism profile—such as better connectivity to Shakarmarg, beautification of seven natural lakes, and development of religious circuits.
Dev Raj Sharma said the Centre is working towards comprehensive development and empowerment of all communities in the region, especially the Gujjar-Bakerwal and Pahari tribes.
Jugal Dogra said the tunnel approval and other schemes mark the end of political indifference and the beginning of a focused national development push for Rajouri-Poonch.
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