CM reviews procedure for vehicular traffic through Qazigund-Banihal Railway tunnel

STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: As a sequel to the decision of using Qazigund-Banihal Railway tunnel for plying vehicular traffic during extreme weather conditions and heavy snowfalls, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Monday reviewed the operating procedures to be adopted while opening the tunnel at a meeting with officers of State Government and Northern Railways. Pertinent to mention that during her trip to the national capital, Mehbooba Mufti had sought opening of the Railway tunnel for vehicular movement during heavy snowfalls and extreme winters. Railway Minister, Suresh Prabu had agreed to the suggestion and it was decided that working out of modalities would be followed soon. Addressing the meeting, Mehbooba said the decision to use the aforesaid railway tunnel has been necessitated by the fact that many passenger vehicles get stranded on the same stretch of National Highway during heavy snowfalls and slippery conditions putting hundreds of passengers to risk. Mehbooba impressed upon the officers of the State government and Northern Railways to fine tune the modalities further and incorporate each other’s views on how to optimally use the tunnel without disturbing railway movement through it and stressed for maintaining close coordination in this regard. Later, interacting with a deputation of youth from Jammu city, the Chief Minister said the growth of every section of the society is key to progress and development of the State. , Mehbooba said her government is working on this principle so that no region or section of the society is left out in Jammu and Kashmir in its march to progress and prosperity. She asked the youth to take benefits of all the schemes and programmes launched by the government for their empowerment and contribute positively
to the State and society. The deputation raised many issues with her including more credit facilities to aspiring entrepreneurs, facilitation of documentation process for availing benefits of different schemes of the central government. Another deputation from Belicharana raised issues of upgradation of road and repair of embankments on river Tawi in their area. Mehbooba assured the deputation to look into both of their demands. She assured the deputation that their demands would be appropriately addressed