Expressing concern over loss of precious lives in road accidents, Minister for Public Works, Naeem Akhtar today directed the engineers to install crash barriers along the National Highway and other roads in district Doda to ensure safety of passengers.“These roads have become death trap due to lack of adequate safety measures,” the Minister said, adding that special thrust should be given on putting in place adequate safety measures for passengers while constructing roads.The Minister issued these instructions while chairing a meeting here to review progress of road and bridge projects in Chenab Valley.MLA Doda Shakti Raj Parihar, MLA Bhaderwah Daleep Parihar, MLC Firdous Tak, Chief Engineer, PWD (R&B) Sudheer Shah, Deputy Commissioner, Doda Bhawani Rakwal, Superintending Engineer, PWD (R&B) Circle Doda Niaz Banday, engineers of PWD (R&B) and senior offices of other concerned departments were present in the meeting.The meeting was informed that a road length of 27.05 km, 11.95 km and 15.70 km have been upgraded in Doda, Bhaderwah and Gandoh respectively while as the work on Nagri to Ghat, Doda to Beoli, Khellani to Old Doda Bridge, Gandoh to Jai, Jakyas to Chillipain and Beoli to Lal Draman are going on in full swing. The Minister directed the officers to prepare DPR for Thathri to Kilotharian road which is the lifeline of people living in Bhallessa.The DC informed the Minister that the road projects are delayed due to shortage of crushers and hot mix plants in Doda. Two new mobile hot mix plants have been setup here for a specified period of time that have provided some pace to the road projects, he added.
He further informed that the construction work of prestigious Ganpath Bridge and Batote to Kishtwar road has been completed while as the work on steel girder bridge over river Chenab at Shiva Dal will be completed by the end of this financial year. The restoration work of Doda-Batote National Highway-244 and construction work of motorable bridges over Neelu Nallah at Khulsari and Dherja Bhahderwah have been started. The first floor of Govt. Degree College, Gandoh will be completed by March, 2018 and would be made suitable for starting the academic process, he added.The Minister directed the engineers to start work on road projects under CRF in Doda and Bhaderwah within a week’s time and complete them within the specified deadlines. The road infrastructure should be improved in Doda to boost the development activities and increasing livelihood opportunities for the common masses, he stressed.The Minister was also informed about the status of other development projects including District Hospital in Doda, Sub-District Hospitals in Bhaderwah and Gandoh, PHCs in Bhella, Barath and Gundnah, New Medical College, Doda, Multipurpose Indoor Hall and Sports Stadium in Doda and Polytechnic College Boeli. The Minister asked the concerned agencies to expedite these development projects for the welfare of the people of Doda.
The Minister directed the officers of Agriculture Department to promote organic farming especially walnut, sweet corn and olive and involve local youth in marketing and processing of these products.The officers of agriculture department informed that they have distributed Rabi seeds among the farmers and awareness camps under Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana have been organized at both Panchayat and block level.The Minister asked the Deputy Commissioner to identify students who can be sent on educational tour to Srinagar so that they know about the different techniques involved in agriculture and horticulture sector.During his tour to Doda, the Minister also interacted with the locals at Batote and listened to their demands. The Minister informed them that the government will look into the issues raised by them.The Minister assured them that he would discuss the prospect of declaring Batote as Tourist Village with the Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti for promoting tourism activities in the area and providing opportunities to the people to earn their livelihood.He stressed on creating way side amenities on both sides of the road and asked the people to start the business of home stays which will enhance their income and will also boost the tourist influx in the area.The people demanded the construction of approach road to Kendriya Vidyalaya, Batote while as the locals at Assar asked for construction of 7 km long road from Banjar Morh to Shamti and link road to PHC, Assar. Reacting to their demands, the Minister directed the engineers to complete the requisite formalities and remove hiccups, if any, and start construction work as soon as possible.