Describing the construction of Mughal Road as one of the landmark achievements of Congress-led Government in the State & UPA Government at the Centre, Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha and former Chief Minister of J&K stated that the re-opening of this historical route has alleviated the hardships of the people of this far off and distant area of Pir Panjal and opened new avenues of progress and prosperity.Azad said that since the laying of foundation stone by Dr Manmohan Singh, the then Prime Minister in March 2006, the execution of Mughal Road was done in a fast-track mode to fulfill the long pending aspiration of the people of Pir Panjal.Azad was addressing public meetings today in Gool, Gulabgarh, Surankote, Reasi and Chenani constituencies which are slated to go for polls in the second phase. Jugal Kishore Sharma, MLC, Ajaz Ahmad Khan MoS, Krishan Chander Bhagat, MLA, Ch Mumtaz Ahmad Khan contesting candidate and Ch Akram Contesting Candidate were also present.
“UPA Government liberal funding by way of revising the project cost from meager Rs 225 crores to Rs 640 crores under Prime Minister’s Reconstruction Programme and Congress-led Government’s fast-tracked execution led to the creation of a viable alternate connectivity for the people of Pir Panjal in a short span of two and a half years,” said Azad adding that no other political party can claim credit of having executed big projects in such an efficient and speedy manner in the State of Jammu & Kashmir as has been done by Congress-led Government.Giving a historical account of the Mughal Road project, Azad said that it was notified in 1969 as Shopian-Dubjan-Aliabad Road vide SRO 106 dated 21st February, 1969; taken up for execution in 1977, and by 1990, after 23 years, only thirty kilometres of single track in stretches was completed.
He said that in just two and half years, Congress-led Government made it a motorable road demonstrating to the people of the State its ability and will to execute big projects, inspite of the fact that work got hampered for almost one year due to the intervention of Supreme Court in a case related to Wildlife sanctuary Hirpora/ Pir Ki Gali.“Our track record on the count of executing infrastructure projects like Mughal road or other big projects has been unparalleled, and no other political party can claim to have carried out developmental works with such determination, passion and speed,” said Azad adding that some political parties have been selling this project as their achievement without even turning a single stone on the ground.Seeking a decisive mandate from the people of the State, Azad said that Congress-led Government has proven credentials of being the single most pro-development force in the State while others have always believed in raising bogies of various hues and colours to play with the sentiments of the people on religious and regional lines.
Azad said that it is the contribution of the Congress-led Government to create an urge and awakening about the concept of development which has compelled other parties to include development in their agenda, however, none of them have any proven credentials and a track record, as they have been getting votes merely by exploiting the people of the State on the basis of religion, region and hollow slogans.“Youth of the State want fast-paced growth, modern infrastructure and creation of employment opportunities, and political parties of the State are selling them catchy slogans, hollow promises, vision documents and utopian frameworks”, said Azad adding that I am presenting the performance and track record of two & half years allowing the people to draw their own conclusions.
Azad said that Congress-led Government has shown the way in the execution of mega projects like roads, hydro-power, colleges, schools, hospitals, etc, in a time bound manner, in addition to providing efficient, credible and pro-people governance to the State inspite of the hurdles created by alliance partners, and other anti-progress forces.Urging the people of Pir Panjal to give decisive and convincing mandate to the Congress Party, Azad assured to craft a new, empowered and progressive Pir Panjal which will be an abode of prosperity, harmony and progress.Azad said that as Chief Minister of the State, he frequently visited this region and attempted to bring this far off and remote area on the developmental map of the State in tune with his policy of equitably and judiciously spreading the fruits of development and progress to all the regions and sub-regions of the State.Recalling his efforts towards operationalizing the Cross-LOC Trade and opening the route of Chakkan da Bagh, Azad said that he personally supervised the construction of infrastructure on the LOC to ensure its completion in the shortest possible time.
Expressing happiness over the success of UPA Govts initiative of promoting cross-loc interaction and trade, Azad said that it has not only enabled the pided families to meet each other, but has also generated employment and trading opportunities for the business communities on both the sides.Azad said that the parting gift of his tenure as Union Health Minister has been the sanctioning of five Cancer Institutes/Centres and five Medical Colleges for the State, including one Medical College at Rajouri, which will enable the people of the entire Pir Panjal region to get specialized medical treatment at their doorsteps.He assured a new momentum to the growth and development of the Pir Panjal region if the people of this remote and backward region repose their confidence and trust in the Congress Party.Asserting that road connectivity has been one of the biggest challenge in the State of Jammu & Kashmir due to its unique topographical features and mountainous terrain, Azad said that UPA Government laid immense emphasis on supporting the State Government in creating modern and reliable road network.
“Four-laning of National Highway from Lakhanpur to Srinagar, liberal funding of Mughal road, Construction of Zojila tunnel, upgradation of Srinagar-Leh National Highway, Construction of Bhaderwah-Chamba road, etc are some of the path-breaking initiatives of UPA Government to improve the road network in the State, in addition to providing liberal support under PMGSY, NABARD, CRF, etc”, said Azad.Azad said that to provide alternate road connectivity to Chenab Valley, UPA Government approved the Sudhamahadev-Marmat Tunnel by undertaking its feasibility study through BRO and expressed confidence that Central Government will soon release funds for the execution of this project.To explore alternate and shortest possible connectivity with Kashmir Valley, Azad said that UPA Govt directed the State Government to prepare a DPR for Doda-Dessa-Kapran Road which has since been submitted by State Government to Ministry of Road transport & Highways for accord of final approval.
He said that Congress-led Government will explore the construction of tunnel on Mughal Road to make it an all-weather and 24x7 road.
Former Chief Minister sought a decisive mandate from the people of the State to execute new road and tunnel projects in a time bound manner to open new vistas of prosperity progress and job opportunities in the State.Azad said that the UPA Govt. laid special thrust on the creation of Infrastructure in the State if J&K by providing liberal financial support for construction of rods, buildings, schools, colleges, hospitals, power distribution systems urban & rural infrastructure.He further said that one of the key contribution of UPA government has been the construction of Jammu-Srinagar Railway Line. “UPA government ensured huge funding of more than 20,000 crores for the construction of Jammu-Srinagar Railway Line and I am happy that most part of this railway project has been completed and work is going on in full swing in the remaining parts” said Azad.
Expressing confidence that Jammu-Srinagar railway line will soon be a reality and Kashmir Valley will be connected with the country via train, Azad said UPA Government’s most shining contribution to the growth and development of J&K State has been this mega railway project which has created enormous employment opportunities for the youth of the State, besides providing cheap and safe mode of transportation.Azad said that for the first time in the history of the country, Kashmir Valley has been connected with Jammu region by train, with the construction of Banihal tunnel, which was inaugurated by former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and UPA Chairperson Smt. Sonia Gandhi about two years ago.
“Travelling time has been reduced and hardships of the devotees of Mata Vaishno Devi as well as the people of the State have been alleviated”, said Azad.Azad said that Congress seeks votes on the basis of its developmental achievements and promise of taking the process to new heights in the most expeditious manner paving the way to make Jammu & Kashmir a modern, progressive and prosperous state. He expressed hope that people will reject pisive, sectarian and exclusionist party as Congress alone can ensure not discriminatory, inclusive and judicious distribution of resources while accommodating the urges and aspirations of all the three regions of the State.