Minister for R&B and Floriculture, Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari informed the House that the road from Ramban to Budhal is under maintenance control of Project Sampark.The minister informed that the stretch-wise details have been provided to the concerned MLA. Giving details, he said that Budhal-Mahore-Gul road work with seal coat for a length of 23.84 km is under progress. So far 06 km of re-surfacing work has already been completed. He said that the resurfacing work on other stretches of the road is planned for the current financial year for which tendering is under finalization. The proposal for conversion of the existing road to National Highway Double Lane Specifications has been taken-up by Chief Engineer Project SAMPARK with Headquarters 16 Corps. The road was badly damaged during flashfloods of September 2014. Restoration works for an amount of Rs 721.00 lacs stands approved out of which works to the extent of Rs 330.00 lacs stand already completed. All efforts are being made by project SAMPARK to complete the balance restoration works on priority for improving the condition of the road.
On Reasi-Arnas-Mahore road, the minister said the road is being upgraded to National Highway double lane specifications. Surfacing work of km 0 to km 10 stand completed. From Km 10 to km 31, 90% formation works have been completed. Contract for surfacing works for the said stretch is under finalization. Similarly, formation works from Km 31st to KM 57th have almost been completed. The road was damaged during flashfloods in Sept 2014 and heavy rains in March 2015. Restoration works for an amount of Rs 100.00 lacs stands approved, out of which work to the tune of Rs 35.00 lacs stand already completed. There are certain slide prone areas at Daman (between km 45 to km 46) and at Malai (km 55) for which Soil Stabilization proposal is under consideration of the project SAMPARK.On Katra to Mahore road, the minister said, the road from Katra to Reasi NH-144 (length 26.50 kms) has been taken over by R&B department from BRO for its improvement and upgradation. Giving details of the present status of the road, the minister said, BT=14 kms, DBM=10.00 kms, and FW=2.50 kms.
The portion of road from Katra to Reasi is in good condition except for 2.50 kms stretch. The expression of interest for its improvement and upgradation from Katra-Reasi-Pouni has been invited for 2nd time. The estimates for improvement and upgradation of road from Katra to Aghar Jitto, from Aghar Jitto to Nau-Devian and from Nau-Devian to Reasi have been submitted to Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH) at a cost of Rs. 9.42 crore, Rs. 4.86 crore and Rs. 16.41 crore respectively for approval. As soon as the jobs are sanctioned, the work will be taken up for execution.