Srinagar– Indian Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkare Monday stated that Jammu and Kashmir will compete with the United States of America in terms of road infrastructure in the years to come.
Minister also said the dream of having a highway from Kashmir to Kanyakumari will be realised by the beginning of the next year.
Interacting with the media at Lalit Grand Palace here after inspecting the ongoing work at Zojila Tunnel, Gadkare said Jammu and Kashmir will have 19 tunnels at a cost of Rs 25,000 crore while construction of 13.14 Kilometer long tunnel and approach road at a cost of Rs 6800 crore is in the progress.
Elaborating, the Union Minister also said a 7.75 meters single tube, 2 lane tunnel will pass under Zojila between Ganderbal district in central Kashmir and Drass town of Kargil.
“I am glad to announce that Jammu and Kashmir will compete with the United States of America in terms of Road infrastructure in the upcoming years. Employment opportunities will increase manifold, while tourism will increase 2-3 times with the construction of Zojila Tunnel having a Smart Tunnel system with New Austrian Tunneling Method,” he said.
The Union Minister also said that Zojila tunnel is equipped with facilities like uninterrupted power supply, CCTV, radio control and ventilation,” said Gadkare.
Union Territory of Ladakh will have all weather construction after the completion of the project, Gadkare said. He said
“There will be all weather connectivity for Ladakh. The average travel time to cross Zojila usually takes three hours but travel time will reduce to mere 20 minutes after the completion of the Zojila Tunnel. This Tunnel will not only reduce travel time but will prove to be fuel efficient,” he added.
He said work on road development at a cost of Rs 1.25 crore under Prime Minister Gram Sadak Yojna (PMGSY) is in progress; while work on five tunnels is on to reduce the travel time along Srinagar-Jammu national Highway.
“Rs 6842 crore will be spent on making Mughal Road an all weather connected road. The Union government is making all out efforts to construct a road from Kashmir to Kanyakumari,” Gadkari said.
Gadkari said the dream of having a highway from Kashmir to Kanyakumari will be realised by the beginning of the next year.
“Kashmir to Kanyakumari road was a dream for us. From Rohtang to Ladakh, four tunnels will be constructed. From Leh, we will come to Kargil and join Zojila and Z-Morh tunnels.
“A new road will reduce distance between Delhi and Chennai by 1,312 kilometres. This dream will come true by the start of 2024,” Gadkari told reporters here.
The minister was in the union territory to attend the second meeting of the Parliamentary Consultative Committee on Road Transport and Highways.
Gadkari said when the BJP government was formed at the Centre in 2014, we prepared a roadmap for road infrastructure in Jammu and Kashmir.
“Since then we have undertaken projects worth Rs 1.25 lakh crore in Jammu and Kashmir Once these projects are complete, the tourist footfall to Jammu and Kashmir will increase by four times. People go to Switzerland, our J&K is more beautiful,” Gadkari said.
The minister said Jammu and Kashmir administration has identified 13 acres of land for creating roadside facilities for tourists.
“The tourism increase will lead to job creation for locals. In the coming few years, we will take the road network of Jammu and Kashmir to American standards,” he added.
In an announcement focusing on pilgrim tourism, Gadkari announced plans for construction of a tunnel between Sheshnag and Panjtarni on the Amarnath yatra route which, he claimed, will reduce the yatra time from the current three days to just nine hours.
“A 110 kilometre road from Khanabal to Panjtarni will be constructed for the ease of Amarnath yatris at a cost of Rs 5,300 crore. The DPR for 73 km stretch from Khanabal to Chandanwari will be done in July 2023.
“The DPR for a 37 km stretch from Chandanwari to Baltal via Panjtarni at a cost of Rs 3,500 will be done in October this year. A 10.8 kilometre-long tunnel will be constructed between Sheshnag and Panjtarni,” the minister said.
According to the minister, the Srinagar Ring Road (from Galander in Pulwama district to Ganderbal district), which is being constructed at a cost of Rs 4,660 crore, will ease the traffic congestion and pollution in the city.
Further, the minister made the announcement of construction of a tunnel at Pir Ki Gali on Mughal Road, connecting Poonch in Jammu region to Shopian in the Valley.
“The Rs 6,000 crore project includes a Rs 5,000 crore tunnel at Pir ki Gali, which comprises the construction of an all weather road,” he said.
He gave details of the ongoing road projects in the union territory, saying it will reduce the travel time on most routes.
“Tunneling on the Jammu-Srinagar corridor has reduced the distance by nearly 20 per cent. The travel time has already been reduced to 5.5 hours (between Jammu and Srinagar). It can be reduced further by two hours once the ongoing works on the remaining five tunnels are complete,” he added. __Courtesy Kashmir Observer
