Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, Saturday thanked the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, for announcing a massive developmental package of Rs.80,000 crore, saying it has the potential of becoming a turning point in the history of J&K.The Chief Minister was speaking during a public meeting here today after the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, inaugurated 450 MW Baglihar Hydro Electric Power Project Stage-II and laid foundation stone of four-lanning of Udhampur-Ramban and Ramban-Banihal sections of Jammu-Srinagar National Highway.Governor, N. N. Vohra, Union Minister for Roads and National Highways, Nitin Gadkari, Deputy Chief Minister, Nirmal Kumar Singh, Minister of State in the PMO, Dr. Jitendra Singh, Minister of State for Finance & IT, Pawan Kumar Gupta and Minister of State for R&B and Revenue, Sunil Kumar Sharma, besides Legislators were also present on the occasion.
Laying emphasis upon tapping potential for local employment generation, the Chief Minister termed the developmental package announced by the Prime Minister as a turning point that will go a long way in winning the hearts and minds of the people in the state. He said the government is focusing on skill development to enhance the employability of available talented human resource.
The Chief Minister also thanked Nitin Gadkari for providing support to develop road infrastructure, in particular fast-tracking the four-laning of Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, which will give a huge impetus to the development of the state.Taken up for development in state sector, the Baglihar HEP Stage-II has the capacity of 450 MW with the design energy of 1302 million units. Expected to generate annual revenue of Rs. 450 crore, the total cost of the project is to the tune of Rs.3113 crore.The four-laning of Udhampur to Chenani and Nashri to Ramban & Ramban to Banihal has been sanctioned at a cost of Rs. 4306 crore. Once completed, it will not only benefit the state of J&K with respect to overall socio-economic development of the region but will also be instrumental in boosting local trade and tourism.The four-laning of the National Highway will also considerably reduce the journey between the two capital cities of Jammu and Srinagar. (KNS)