On Tuesday, Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari announced that within the next 3-4 years, the roads in Jammu and Kashmir will be brought up to the same standard as roads in the United States.
Gadkari told a news conference here in Srinagar this evening that the mission will take 3-4 years. “We are working on such a mission that in the coming three-four years we will make the Jammu and Kashmir road network equivalent to that of America,” he said.
The Union Minister said that a four-lane Greenfield Expressway, connecting Delhi-Katra, will also be made, which will reduce the distance between the two cities by 58 kilometers.
“A total of 32 Green Express Highways are being built, the most important of which is Delhi- Amritsar-Katra Greenfield. This 670 km four-lane Green Field Expressway from Delhi to Vaishno Devi Dham, Katra will be completed by December 2023 at a cost of Rs 37,524 crores,” Gadkari said.
“Presently the distance from Delhi to Katra is 727 kms, this expressway will reduce the distance by 58 kms. With this, there is a possibility that the distance between Delhi-Amritsar, Delhi-Katra, and Delhi-Srinagar will be covered in 4 hours, 6 hours and 8 hours respectively,” he added.
“We have also taken up a work of a 78 Kms four-lane Srinagar ring road, a Rs 4,660 crore worth project, which will be completed in 2023-24,” he said.
“With the construction of this ring road, the people, coming to Baramulla, Kupwara, Bandipora, Gurez, Kargil, and Leh, will not have to come inside Srinagar city. This will reduce the traffic congestion and pollution in the city,” the Minister said.
Earlier in the day, the Union Minister accompanied by Jammu and Kashmir LG Manoj Sinha visited ‘Asia’s largest tunnel’, Zojila Tunnel, to inspect the ongoing work.
“With the construction of this tunnel, tourism will increase by 2-3 times and employment opportunities will also grow in Jammu and Kashmir,” said Gadkari.
“We will achieve connectivity between Kashmir to Kanyakumari in the true sense,” he added.
Gadkari in a tweet said that as many as 19 tunnels are being constructed in Jammu and Kashmir at a cost of Rs 25 thousand crore.
“19 tunnels are being constructed in Jammu and Kashmir at a cost of Rs 25 thousand crore. Under this, construction work of 13.14 km long tunnel and approach road is in progress at Zojila at a cost of Rs 6800 crore. It is a 7.57 meter high horseshoe-shaped single tube, 2-lane tunnel, which will pass under the Zojila Pass in the Himalayas between Ganderbal in Kashmir and Drass town in Kargil district of Ladakh. The project includes a Smart Tunnel (SCADA) system, constructed using the New Austrian Tunneling Method. It is equipped with facilities like CCTV, radio control, uninterrupted power supply, ventilation. The Government of India has also saved Rs 5000 crore by the use of modern technology in this project,” tweeted Gadkari.
The Transport Minister further said that with the construction of this tunnel, there will be all-weather connectivity for Ladakh.
“With the construction of this tunnel, there will be all-weather connectivity for Ladakh. Now the average travel time to cross the Zojila Pass sometimes takes three hours, after the completion of this tunnel the travel time will come down to 20.0 minutes. The reduction in travel time will ultimately result in fuel savings, he tweeted.
He said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the aim is for the all-round development of J-K through better road connectivity.
“The terrain near Zojila Pass is extremely inhospitable, with many fatal accidents taking place here every year. After the completion of the Zojila Tunnel, the chances of accidents will be zero. This tunnel will provide year-round connectivity between the Kashmir valley and Ladakh, which will be extremely important for the development of Ladakh, the promotion of tourism, free movement of local goods and the movement of Indian Armed Forces in case of emergency. We are committed to the all-round development of Jammu and Kashmir through better road connectivity under the leadership of respected Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” he tweeted.
Tunnels for Amarnath yatra track, Pir Ki Gali announced
In an announcement focusing pilgrimage tourism, Union Minister Nitin 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 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.
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 Rs 5,000 crore tunnel at Pir Ki Gali, which comprises the construction of an all weather road,” he said.
