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Gadkari inaugurates Ravi bridge linking J&K, Punjab

KT NEWS SERVICE. Dated: 1/23/2019 2:09:24 PM

Bridge to give better connectivity to J&K villages: Malik

JAMMU, Jan 22: Union Minister for Road Transport & Highways, Shipping, Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation Nitin Gadkari and Governor Satya Pal Malik Tuesday inaugurated a 1210-meter span Keerian-Gandial bridge over Ravi river in Kathua district of Jammu region.
While dedicating the bridge to the nation, Gadkari said that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi led government had set a new mark in timely delivery of public goods by completing various projects on or before time. He said that the government was focussed on providing corruption free and transparent governance to the people without compromising quality.
While addressing a public rally after inaugurating the bridge at village Keerian Gandial in Kathua on river Ravi along with Governor Malik, Gadkari said that the project would benefit over 2,20,000 people living on the two sides – Kathua in Jammu, and Pathankot in Punjab and would reduce the distance between the two cities from 45 kms to 8.6 kms saving time and fuel cost.
Union Minister of State in PMO Dr Jitendra Singh, Advisor to Governor K K Sharma and Chief Secretary B V R Subrahmanyam were also present on the occasion.
Gadkari lauded the efforts of J&K State especially the Engineering wing for executing the project before the set timeline and saving Rs 26 Cr. He said that the central government had left no stone unturned to lay web of connectivity projects in this state by sanctioning new highways, bridges and tunnels, upgrading the existing highways, ring roads in Jammu and Srinagar besides Jammu-Srinagar and Srinagar-Leh corridor for all weather connectivity.
While giving details about the projects launched in Jammu and Kashmir by his department, Gadkari said that the National Highway network in Jammu and Kashmir had seen an increase of 969 kms in the last four years. The total length of NHs in the state was 1695 kms in 2014, which had gone up to 2664 kms in 2018. Number of NHs had also gone up from seven to 14 in the meantime. He also informed the audience that new NHs of 969 kms was announced during the period. He said that in addition to these, four state roads of 400 kms had also been approved in the State.
Gadkari said that under the Prime Minister’s special Development Package (PMDP) for J&K announced on November 7, 2015, the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways was executing 16 projects worth Rs 45,107 Cr through NHAI, NHIDCL, State PWD and BRO. Of these, works worth Rs 30,000 Cr had already started. NHAI was executing eight projects worth Rs 14,987 Cr, NHIDCL/BRO – six projects costing Rs 24120 Cr and PWD – two projects for Rs 6,000 Cr. He further said that two major road corridors were being built in J&K– Jammu–Srinagar and Srinagar–Leh. The Chenani-Nashri tunnel road under the first was the largest highway tunnel in the country that had resulted in reducing the travel time between Jammu and Srinagar by two and a half hours, while the distance between the two had come down by 30 kms. He added that the tunnel was benefitting people by way of making travel possible throughout the year and saving of upto Rs 27 lakh worth fuel on the route.
He also made a mention of the Zojila tunnel for connecting Srinagar with Leh that would be Asia’s longest 14.2 km long two-lane tunnel that would prove to be a milestone all weather roads in the forward region. This strategically important tunnel would drastically reduce the travel time from three and a half hours to just 15 minutes. He further informed the audience that about 26 per cent work of Rs 6,808 Cr Z-turn tunnel and approach road on NH-1 was completed on Srinagar-Leh Corridor.
Giving a detail about the Ring Road project in the state, Gadkari said that a 62-km long 4-lane ring road was being constructed in the Srinagar city at the cost of Rs 1,860 Cr that starts from Ganderbal on NH-44 and ends at Vayul on NH-1D. He informed that the road would connect 54 villages in six districts. He further informed that about 25 per cent work on the 58.255 km 4-lane Jammu Ring Road had been completed. The total cost of the project was Rs 1,891 Cr and it would involve construction of eight major bridges, 22 minor bridges, six flyovers, and two tunnels of 770 meters and 710 meters respectively.
While addressing the gathering, Malik said that through Centre’s support it was being assured that no ‘projects are left incomplete in the state and that people are able to take the benefit of these projects.’
Governor observed that the inter-state Keeriyan- Gandiyal bridge on Ravi river in the Kathua district would provide better connectivity to disconnected villages of J&K with Punjab and boost economic development of the region.
He thanked Gadkari for his intervention in the revival of Shahpur- Kandi project which would significantly enhance the irrigation potential of the state.
Governor observed that to give boost to developmental activities and to complete the languishing projects across the state, Jammu and Kashmir Infrastructure Development Finance Corporation (JKIDFC), was established with an authorization to raise loans up to Rs. 8000 Cr.
Dr Jitendra Singh in his address said that the completion of various infrastructure projects in the state was a manifestation of the slogan of ‘Sankalp Se siddhi’ given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He said that through the completion of the developmental projects in the state, J&K had become a part of the development journey of the Nation that is to continue in the years to come. He informed that the bridge been constructed at a cost much lower to the estimated cost leading to a saving of Rs 16 Cr and the project was completed ahead of time. He mentioned about the various projects that have been completed or are in the pipeline in Kathua like first Highway Mart in the state, Medical College, Bio-Tech Park and Passport Office all of which were completed in last five years.
Dr Jitendra called this event a historic achievement as 70 years long pending demand of the people of Keerian-Gandial village was fulfilled. He said that Rs. 158.84 Cr were spent not to connect just two panchayats of Keerian and Gandial of Kathua district but this bridge would prove as an alternate inter-state connectivity between J&K and Punjab thus decongesting the traffic on Jammu-Pathankot NH to a great extent besides giving a boost to the social as well as economical development of the people living in the adjoining areas.
The 30 kms distance between Kathua and Gandial was covered in an hour earlier but after the construction of this bridge the distance was reduced to 8 kms and it will now take only 10 minutes to reach Gandial from Kathua, Singh added.
Sanjeev Verma, Divisional Commissioner Jammu; Rohit Khajuria, Deputy Commissioner Kathua and many senior civil and police officers were among those present on the occasion.