Minister for Transport, Abdul Ghani Kohli today said the Prime Minister’s Rs 80000 crore reconstruction plan will expand and improve road connectivity in the State especially in the remote areas like Poonch and Rajouri.Addressing a series of public meetings in Budhal and Khwas areas of district Rajouri, Kohli said that out of the Rs 80000 crore package Rs 5000 crore have been earmarked for upgradation of Jammu-Poonch road which will boost the economy of the twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch. He said a tunnel on Mughal Road is also being constructed in the State sector to provide all-weather connectivity to Poonch and Rajouri with Kashmir valley.
The Minister was accompanied by the Member of Parliament, Jugal Kishore Sharma.Kohli said massive road upgradation programme is presently being executed by the R&B department in the in Rajouri under which Siot-Kalakote, Kotranka-Khwas and Kotranka-Budhal roads have been black-topped.He said providing connectivity to unconnected areas via better and well maintained roads is high on agenda of the Government. He and urged the people to extend full cooperation to the executing agencies in the completion of the development projects.MP, Jugal Kishore Sharma announced one hand-pump each for Khwas and Budhal out of his MPLAD funds to meet the demand of shortage of drinking water. He also assured the locals that the demand for ambulance will be fulfilled on priority.
The locals put forth various demands including plying of SRTC buses on Kotranka-Khwas route, upgradation of schools with adequate teaching staff, provision for more drinking water schemes, installation of new electric transformers along with providing electricity connection to uncovered hamlets in Khwas area. They also demanded construction of community hall, opening of more Anganwadi centres and installation of hand pumps.The Minister assured the locals that their demands would be looked into on priority. He directed the RTO to immediately deploy and SRTC bus on Kotranka-Khwas route.Among others, District Development Commissioner Rajouri, Shabir Ahmed Bhat, ACD Noor Alam, SDM Kotranka, Sukhpal Singh, Executive Officers, sectoral officers along with prominent citizens including Thakur Puran Singh, Abdul Wahid, Bharat Bushan Vaid, Dev Raj accompanied the Minister.