Ganderbal: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday said that the government has brought the resolution in the assembly in a way that the voices raised won’t go unheard and will compel the central government to initiate a dialogue with them.
Addressing a gathering in his Ganderbal constituency, Omar as per the news agency KNO said there are people who have raised fingers on the government and claim that people have been betrayed. “We are law-knowing people and know how to raise voices in a way that cannot be ignored. We wanted to make it clear that the decision taken on August 05, 2019 is not acceptable to us.”
He added that the resolution seeking restoration of J&K’s special status “has been finally brought in a way that will compel the government of India to initiate a dialogue process”. The voices raised won’t go unheard, the Chief Minister claimed.
He also stated that all the promises made with the people during election campaigning will be fulfilled on the ground. Recently a cabinet meeting was held in which a decision was taken for the students with regard to their academic sessions — timing of examinations. “Deciding these issues is the prerogative of the people here, but this right was snatched from us after 2019,” Omar said, adding that the academic session for the students of Class 10th, 11th and 12th will be changed next year.
He also said that he had promised not to lay any foundation stone or organize any rally or function anywhere other than Ganderbal. “Today, the foundation stone for a bridge was laid and I will be back after tomorrow for a meeting here in which all the top government officials and the council of ministers will be present,” he said.
Furthermore, he stated that the people from his constituency will not have to find him in Srinagar, but he would be available for the people at Dak Bunglow here once a week while other government functionaries will also remain stationed there for the people of his constituency.
He also said that the Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has mentioned every promise of theirs in his speech including those pertaining to the electricity tariff, ration, gas cylinders and other things. “All the promises we have made with the people will be fulfilled on the ground. Our government will not waste even a single day and will work hard for the wellbeing of the people,” he said.
CM vows development for Ganderbal, launches Paribal-Takanwari Bridge project
“I have come here not with empty hands, but with a commitment to uplift Ganderbal,” Chief Minister Omar Abdullah told the people he represents in the Legislative Assembly after he laid the foundation stone for the Paribal-Takanwari bridge over Nallah Sindh today.
Addressing a large gathering at Paribal Sherpathri, CM reaffirmed his commitment to uplifting Ganderbal’s infrastructure even as he expressed gratitude for the community’s trust and pledging responsive, community-centered governance.
The Chief Minister emphasized that the bridge aligns with the promises outlined in the party’s manifesto, fulfilling a long-standing demand of Ganderbal’s residents.
This 50-meter, single-span steel-trussed girder bridge, with a 7.5-meter-wide carriageway, is part of the NABARD RIDF-XXIX initiative and will connect Paribal to Takanwari. Once completed, the bridge will reduce travel distance between Shallabugh and Batamaloo to 15 kilometers from the current 35-kilometer route through Duderhama-Beebhama-Ganderbal, an official press release informed.
It said the bridge project, with a budget of Rs 1509.95 lakh, includes a 1.7-kilometer approach road and is expected to be completed within three years. This new route will not only improve mobility but is expected to boost economic growth and open development opportunities in the region.
The foundation stone-laying ceremony saw the attendance of Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary, Advisor to Chief Minister Nasir Aslam Wani, DDC Chairperson Nuzhat Ishfaq, Vice-Chairperson Bilal Ahmad, Deputy Commissioner Shyambir, Chief Engineer of R&B, and other district officials, underscoring the project’s significance for Ganderbal.
Omar Abdullah also assured the constituents that public meetings would be held regularly in Ganderbal, so local issues could be addressed without the need to visit the Secretariat in Srinagar. Instead, he committed to meeting residents weekly at Dak Bungalow Fatehpora.
“The Paribal-Takanwari Bridge is more than just a structure; it represents the start of a new development phase for Ganderbal,” CM Abdullah added, highlighting the government’s dedication to advancing infrastructure projects that directly benefit the people of Ganderbal and improve their quality of life.
Local leaders and dignitaries, including the DDC Chairperson and district representatives, expressed their gratitude for the Chief Minister’s commitment at the ceremony.
The district president of the National Conference highlighted local issues, such as the need for a CT scan facility at the District Hospital, the completion of the Gunzham Bridge, and road-widening projects from Nagbal to Wayil.
