Kathua: Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah Tuesday said that construction of bridges and roads received a considerable fillip during the last five years of his government to provide better road communication and link up rural and remote areas with main highways. “This was also aimed at ameliorating the lot of people living in backward areas by helping in the generation of economic activities of wide-range”, he added.
Inaugurating Rs. 17.18 crore, 310 metres span double lane pre-stressed concrete Bridge over Tarnah Nallah at Magloor in Kathua District of Jammu Division this afternoon, the Chief Minister said that about 265 major bridges were completed in the State during the last five years besides 500 road construction projects.
The Chief Minister said that road communication sector being essentially important for inclusive socio-economic growth received priority attention and about 10,000 kilometres of roads have been constructed and upgraded besides macadamizing 15,000 kilometres in the State during the last five years.
The Chief Minister said that two flyovers one each at Jammu and Srinagar have been launched to provide better road communication in the twin cities and give relief to the commuters from frequent traffic jams. He said under the PMGSY over 1150 road projects were launched in the rural areas and 713 have been completed so far.
Omar Abdullah said that the State Government got 650 road schemes costing Rs. 1774 crore aimed at constructing about 3500 kilometres, cleared from the Union Government under Phase VIII and IX under PMGSY. He said a massive roads and bridges construction programme is in full swing in the State adding that the current year will witness completion a lot of more roads and bridge scheme.
The Magloor Bridge inaugurated today by the Chief Minister will benefit villages of Magloor, Torsi, Rehni, Malani, Gurah Panditan, Satt, Bakhta, Forelain, Dhani, Baria and adjacent areas. It will benefit about 25000 people and generate economic activities in these areas.
The area being remote and people largely dependent on agriculture and allied activities were facing difficulties in transporting their produce to markets as also tranship fertilizers, seeds and domestic goods from towns and cities to their areas. The lack of connectivity was also hindering the development process. The education and medicare sectors were also under pressure. The construction of this bridge has opened a new era of economic welfare and development in the area.
The executing agency of the bridge was J&K Projects Construction Corporation (JKPCC). The JKPCC completed the bridge about one year ahead of the schedule date of completion.
Present on the occasion were Minister for R&B, Abdul Majid Wani, Minister of State for Cooperatives, Dr. Manohar Lal, Minister of State for R&B, Sajjad Ahmad Kichloo, Parliament Member, Ch. Lal Singh, various Sarpanches, Panches, Managing Director, JKPCC, P. R. Bhagat, Chief Engineer R&B, Jammu, Abdul Hamid, various officers and a large number of locals. (KNS)