JAMMU: Minister for Public Works (Roads & Buildings), Abdul Rehman Veeri on Wednesday said Rs 1.37 crore has been spent on improvement and upgradation of various roads in Udhampur including Udhampur-Kaldi-Ghordi road, Mantalai-Dudu road, Jaganoo-Dhandal road and Kainthgali-Lander road.
The Minister said this while responding to a question raised by MLA, Dina Nath Bhagat in the Legislative Assembly.
He further informed that proposals for further improvement and upgradation of Udhampur-Ghordi road from single lane to double lane and construction of Mantalai-Dudu road have been submitted to Government of India for consideration and funding under Central Road Fund (CRF). Regarding upgradation of Kainthgali-Landher road, the Minister said the construction of road has been approved at a cost of Rs 8.14 crore under NABARD and the work is under progress. The Detailed Project Rreport (DPR) for construction of Jaganoo-Dhandyal road has been formulated for 5 km length at a cost of Rs 2.49 crore, but its approval is awaited, he added.
Meanwhile, the Minister further informed that the proposal for construction of Sadhna tunnel on Bandipora-Gurez road is awaiting sanction from Border Roads Organisation (BRO).
He said this while replying to a question raised by Raja Manzoor Ahmad.
He said that engagement of consultants for carrying out pre-feasibility study and framing up of phase-wise proposals (DPR) of the tunnel has been forwarded by project BEACON to headquarters of Director General Border Roads (BRO) for sanction.
Legislators, RS Pathania and Dalip Singh Parihar, Er Rasheed, Mohammad Yousuf Bhat, Shah Mohammad Tantray, Dalip Singh Parihar and Abdul Rahim Rather raised supplementary questions regarding the condition of road network in their respective constituencies.
Later, he informed the House that Jammu-Akhnoor road has been entrusted to National Highway Infrastructure Development Corporation (NHIDCL) for its up-gradation to four-lane with paved shoulders. The Minister was replying to a question made by Vikramaditya Singh in the Upper House.
The Minister also informed the House that 72.50 km road length has been macadamised in R&B division, Rajouri under Improvement/up-gradation of city & town roads scheme.
He said this while replying to a question raised by Vibodh Gupta in the Upper House.
The Minister said that 4.7 km of tile work has been achieved in Rajouri town under the scheme during last and current fiscal so far. He said that, in view of the heavy traffic in Rajouri town, a DPR for construction of 32 m span double lane motorable bridge at Rajouri (Hamilton) including approaches at a cost of Rs 5.40 crore has been recommended to Union Ministry of Road Transport & Highways for approval and funding under CRF during current fiscal.
He further stated that Rs 12.93 crore is required for payment of land/structure compensation coming under the alignment of approaches of newly constructed Abdullah Bridge. Due to resource constraints the demand for payment of compensation is being met in a phased manner and as per availability of funds, he added.
The Minister also informed that DPR for construction of Hardan-Nawagabra- Kranoo road has been formulated at an estimated cost of Rs 5 crore. He was replying to a question raised by Javaid Ahmad Mirchal on the floor of the House.