JAMMU: As a sequel to the decision of
using Qazigund-Banihal Railway tun-
nel for plying vehicular traffic during
extreme weather conditions and heavy
snowfalls, Chief Minister Mehbooba
Mufti on Monday reviewed the operat-
ing 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 snow-
falls 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 tun-
nel without disturbing railway move-
ment through it and stressed for main-
taining close coordination in this
regard.
Later, interacting with a deputation of
youth from Jammu city, the Chief
Minister said the growth of every sec-
tion 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 cen-
tral 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.[lightbox]
