Jammu, 16 June (H.S.): Union Minister of State for Road Transport & Highways Shri Ajay Tamta wrapped up a two-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday after an extensive inspection of key National Highway projects followed by a high-level review meeting held at the Convention Centre, Jammu yesterday.

During the visit, the MoS travelled the entire Srinagar–Jammu section of NH-44, inspecting the Qazigund–Banihal and Chenani–Nashri tunnels, the landslide-prone Ramban–Banihal stretch and the ongoing Srinagar and Jammu Ring Road projects being executed by NHAI. He also assessed the Chenani–Sudhmahadev stretch and the proposed Sudhmahadev–Dranga tunnel alignment under NHIDCL.

Senior officers of NHAI, NHIDCL, BRO, PWD and MoRTH accompanied him during the field inspections.

The review meeting was attended by Members Parliament Jugal Kishore Sharma and Sat Pal Sharma, MLAs Chandra Prakash Ganga, Yudhvir Sethi, Vikram Randhawa, Arvind Gupta and Surendra Bhagat besides senior officials from all highway agencies.

The officials briefed the Minister on the progress of ongoing and upcoming works funded by MoRTH, covering projects being executed by NHAI, NHIDCL, BRO and PWD across the Union Territory.

Highlighting the shift since 2014, Shri Ajay Tamta said that Jammu and Kashmir has undergone an “unprecedented transformation” in road and transport infrastructure. Before 2014, highway development in the region was limited, with difficult terrain, frequent landslides and poor all-weather connectivity. Since then, works worth nearly ₹1.35 lakh crore have been taken up. Of this, 700 km worth ₹20,000 crore have been completed, 2,300 km worth ₹50,000 crore are under construction and DPRs for another 707 km worth ₹65,000 crore are being prepared.Kashmir news reporting

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Hindusthan Samachar / Krishan Kumar