Better roads arteries of development
While laying foundation of 25 National Highway projects in J&K worth Rs 11,721 Croresat the Sports Stadium, Doda on Wednesday, Union Minister of Road Transport & Highways, Nitin Gadkariasserted that the UT of J&K has a huge tourism potential which will finally reap the benefits of upcoming modern road infrastructure projects and these projects will prove as an important lifeline for the development of the industrial sector too. On the occasion, the Lt Governor also secured inclusion of 06 more road projects for Jammu and 01 project for Kashmir division under National Highways and Bharatmala category. The inclusion of 06 Road projects in Jammu division will give a massive push to the economic growth and industrial development, besides tapping the tourism potential in the region.These newly included road projects are: Kathua-Basholi-Bani-Bhaderwah-Doda (170 KM); Doda-Bhaderwah-Chamba (Himachal) Road (132 KM); Dayalachak-Challan-Billawar-Mahanpur-Basohli Road(118 KM); Tawi Bridge-Jammu Airport-Miran Sahib-R.S.Pura Suchetgarh (Old Jammu-Sialkot Road) (29 KM); Surankote-Bafliaz-Shopian-Srinagar (Mughal Road) (145 KM); Atholi(Kishtwar)-Machail-Zanskar Road (Kargil); Narabal-Tangmarg-Gulmarg-Baramulla (70 KM). LG said that 07 new projects will pave the way for sustainable development in J&K, will open up new livelihood avenues for the local population and enhancing tourism and business activities, besides strengthening the strategic grid by ensuring all weather connectivity. Commenting condition of roads other than national highways, the Lt Governor said that infrastructure development and raising the standard of living of the common man is an important part of the overall economic priorities of the GoI and the J&K UT government and that it is in this backdrop that macadamisation of the roads is also taking place at double or triple times the speed as compared to earlier, informing that in 2019, 2290 km of road was blacktopped, while last year, 5136 km of road was macadamized. This year a target of macadamisation of 8000 km of road has been set.
It goes without saying that surface communication is key to the progress of any place in the world. For the development of places, better roads are what arteries are for the body. Jammu and Kashmir has suffered a lot during past three decades and the economy of the region has taken a hit. Better road infrastructure is what can put the region back on the super highway of development. Better road connectivity between Kashmir and Jammu region and subsequently with the rest of the country would ensure that fresh fruits from Kashmir reach the desired markets well on time and thus fetch good returns for the growers. It will also give boost to domestic tourism. Most of the tourists within India prefer trains and buses to gor for outings in groups. Once the region develops better roads, it will undoubtedly attract huge number of tourists. Besides, with better roads, will save time and fuel and thus help the industrial sector of the UT. The construction of new road projects would open up the avenues of employability in the UT where unemployment is one of the biggest challenges.With the opening of Qazigund-Banihal tunnel on Jammu-Srinagar national highway, the travel on the road has already been easier on this road and once this highway becomes all weather one, this place will for sure touch the new heights of progress and development.
