Excelsior Correspondent
KHOON, July 16: Satish Sharma, senior BJP leader and R S Pathania, BJP Spokesperson, have demanded four laning of Dhar road right from Mahanpur upto Udhampur.
“The said road, constructed almost six-seven decades ago, has acted as the viable lifeline of the people of the area. Given the routine traffic as well as the acting as a supply line for military operations upto Kashmir, the present status of the road requires to be four-laned,” they said while addressing a joint meeting of respectable members as well as Panches/Sarpanches of Kathua and Udhampur district at village Khoon of Tehsil Majalta.
Satish Sharma expressed concerns over the shifting of the alignment of Amritsar-Katra expressway from this axis to Jammu-Pathankot axis which involves greater compensation to the land owners as well as the houses and shops. More so, he added, the expressway is again at a stone’s throw from Indo-Pak border which lessens its probability and feasibility.
Pathania emphasised that Dhar road axis involves lesser environmental hazards. It also acts as a viable tourism axis to the popular shrines of Sri Balasundri Mata, Sri Sukrala Devi Temple, Sri Narsingh Temple Jansal, Sri Chountra Mata, Sri Pingla Mata, Sri Bagge Wali Mata. The proposed four-lane can facilitate nurturing pilgrimage circuit in the area too,” he added.
Pathania further said that increased traffic on this road necessitates a viable four lane wherefrom the tourists and pilgrims from across the country could use this highway and reach upto the holy shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi as well as the picturesque valley of Kashmir and Kud Patnitop, Chenani, Dudu areas.
Others who spoke on the occasion, included Romesh Chander Gupta, Mohan Lal Sharma (Mandal Pardhan), Abhay Khajuria (BDC Chairman), Namrata Bali, Ved Pal Sharma, Subash Chander, Bikram Singh, Nimrata Bali and Prikshit.
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