Dr Jitendra thanks for conceding most of his proposals

STATE TIMES NEWS

SRINAGAR: The NHAI will begin work on the Rs 4,000-crore Chattergala tunnel in Jammu and Kashmir at the earliest.
“The prestigious Chhatergala tunnel work costing around Rs. 4,000 crore will be executed by the National Highway Authority of India(NHAI) and the under-passes on the prestigious Kathua Express corridor section, wherever demanded by public, will be undertaken at the earliest” . Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh said while briefing the media after a marathon meeting lasting nearly four hours and presided by Union MoRTH Nitin Gadkari to review important road and tunnel projects in Jammu & Kashmir.
Dr Jitendra thanked Gadkari for having conceded most of the suggestions and proposals put across by him.

Elaborating further, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Earth Sciences, MoS PMO, Department of Atomic Energy and Department of Space, MoS Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Dr. Jitendra Singh said that the proposal for Chhatergala tunnel had been initiated about six years back and the DPR was also prepared by the BRO agency ‘Beacons’ but due to lack of funds it could not be undertaken. He said, now it has been decided that the NHAI will undertake construction of the new national highway from Lakhanpur to Basohli-Bani to Bhaderwah-Doda. The construction shall begin from one end and when it reaches the tunnel site the construction of the historic Chhatergala tunnel will also be executed, he added.
Once this highway is complete, said Dr. Jitendra Singh, it will be a game changer as it will provide an all-weather connectivity between Lakhanpur and district Doda via tourist spots of Basohli and Bani, in addition to reducing the travel time considerably and giving a boost to business, employment and revenue generation. Referring to the under construction Delhi-Katra express corridor, Dr. Jitendra Singh recalled that the express corridor had been approved after a lot of efforts and the effort began way back in 2015. There were initial delays, he said, because Punjab had also demanded a similar express corridor between Delhi and Amritsar, and finally after arriving at a compromise to have an express corridor between Delhi and Katra with stop-overs at Amritsar and Kathua, the project was finalized.
He informed that the express corridor is in the last phase of its completion and expressed satisfaction that on the Kathua-Hiranagar stretch, the public demand for the construction of underpasses at places like Hatli, Rajbagh, Chann Arorian, Chapper and Kootah had been accepted for the convenience of the local population.
In the same constituency, Dr. Jitendra Singh said, the work on the national highway section of Kishtwar Chatru will also be expedited which will provide an alternative road connectivity for ease of travel.
While expressing gratitude to the government headed by PM Narendra Modi for having allocated major highway projects to his Lok Sabha Constituency, Dr. Jitendra Singh said, the work on another prestigious project of Chenani-Sudhmahadev national highway will also be expedited.
He further informed that the new national highway via Khilani to Goha will have proper linkage to the adjoining villages of Bergana, Humbal and Kalota which also happens to be his own native village.
As the Minister representing J&K in the Union Council, Dr. Jitendra Singh also appreciated the MoRTH Minister for giving a special focus to the ongoing projects of Srinagar-Sonamarg section, Zojila tunnel, Jammu Rajouri highway and the two ring roads of Srinagar and Jammu respectively.

Working with dedication for J&K’s strong tomorrow: LG

SRINAGAR: Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari on Monday chaired a high-level meeting at Raj Bhawan to review progress of road and highway projects in J&K.
The Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha expressed gratitude to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari for big-ticket infrastructure projects in the UT.
“We are working with dedication for J&K’s strong and glorious tomorrow. The massive infrastructure push has created new employment opportunities and also gave big boost to UT’s economy,” the Lt Governor said.
“I am grateful to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Minister Gadkari and hearty congratulations to the team for undertaking infrastructure projects of unprecedented magnitude in Jammu Kashmir,” the Lt Governor said.
The Lt Governor also posted on X:
“Happy to have welcomed Hon’ble Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Shri Nitin Gadkari Ji to Raj Bhawan. He chaired a high level meeting to review progress of road and highway projects in J&K. Discussed important projects including Z-Morh Tunnel, Ring Road Jammu, 4- Laning of Udhampur Ramban road, different sections of Khellani- Kishtwar-Chattroo road, Chenani-Sudhmahadev section on NH-244 and various other projects under NHAI, NHIDCL & SAMPARK”.