STATE TIMES NEWS
RAMBAN: Ramban, a town known for protracted traffic jams and frequent landslides, has got a highway facelift with two new bridges and one flyover, and this has been possible because in the last 9 years under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, there has been equitable distribution of resources and hitherto rejected areas have received their due without consideration of vote bank, caste or creed.
This was stated by Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology; MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh while addressing BJP workers and office bearers during his visit here.
Dr Jitendra said that the Maitra Bridge had been a long standing demand of the people of Ramban but it was not taken up for consideration by erstwhile National Conference and Congress governments. It was taken up only under the Modi Govt and now dedicated to the public.
Similarly, the Minister said, the Jaswal bridge,being a very old bridge, had outlived its lifespan and turned risky for use. The issue was taken up with BRO chief Gen Rajiv Chaudhary and a new bridge was constructed in minimum possible time. This new bridge was kept on fastrack within a short span so that people do not suffer inconvenience, he said.
On the eve of the Amarnath Yatra, said Dr Jitendra, the new flyover is also ready which will ease the traffic jams and considerably reduce the traffic between Jammu to Ramban and further to Srinagar.
Dr Singh said ,on one side of Ramban is Asia’s longest tunnel Dr Syama Prasad Mukherjee tunnel and on the other side is new Qazigund tunnel plus smaller tunnels. Dr Jitendra Singh said, the work on National Highway beyond Ramban towards Srinagar is also proceeding on fast track with a series of tunnels on the way which would cut down the journey time.
The travel time from Jammu to Srinagar will be reduced to just around 4 hours, he said. Dr Jitendra said, it is left to the future historians and analysts to answer why in the last so many decades the entire Ramban region was allowed to languish and suffer because of lack connectivity in spite of the fact some of the well known Ministers in the central as well as state governments were elected from this area. He said, it is our good fortune that all these pending works were destined to be accomplished in the last 9 years when Narendra Modi was the Prime Minister and BJP represented this Lok Sabha Constituency.