Nitin Gadkari inaugurates bridge over River Ravi linking J&K to Punjab

KATHUA: Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister for Road Transport & Highways inaugurated a 1210 meter bridge over River Ravi in Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir on January 22, 2019 to improve inter-state connectivity.

Gadkari dedicated the bridge to the Nation. The bridge over River Ravi at Keerian – Gandial will benefit over 2,20,000 people living on the two sides – Kathua in Jammu, and Pathankot in Punjab. It will reduce the distance between the two cities to 8.6 km from 45 km. It will save time, fuel, and money. The bridge has been constructed at a cost of Rs 158.84 crore.

Gadkari shared the details about the ongoing highway projects in Jammu and Kashmir. He said that the National Highway (NH) network in Jammu and Kashmir has seen an increase of 969 km in the last four years.

He said that the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways is executing 16 projects worth Rs 45,107 crore through National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL), State Public Works Department (PWD) and Border Roads Organisation (BRO) under the Prime Minister’s special development package (PMDP) for J&K announced on November 7, 2015. Of these, works worth Rs 30,000 crore has already started. NHAI is executing eight projects worth Rs 14,987 crore, NHIDCL/BRO – six projects costing Rs 24120 crore, and PWD – two projects for Rs 6,000 crore.

Two major road corridors are being built in the state which will connect Jammu–Srinagar and Srinagar–Leh. The Chenani-Nashri Highway Tunnel, the longest road tunnel in the country has resulted in reducing the travel time between Jammu and Srinagar by two and a half hours, whereas the distance has been reduced by 30 km. The tunnel is benefitting by making travel possible throughout the year and saving of upto Rs 27 lakh worth fuel on the route.

A 62-km long 4-lane ring road is being constructed in Srinagar city at a cost of Rs 1,860 crore. The road begins from Ganderbal on NH-44 and ends at Vayul on NH-1D. It will connect 54 villages in six districts. About 25 per cent work has been completed.

Satya Pal Malik, Governor, Jammu & Kashmir, while addressing the audience said that through Centre’s support it was being assured that no projects are left incomplete and that people are able to take the benefit of these projects.