Governor N.N. Vohra in a meeting held here at the Civil Secretariat, reviewed the significant road projects being maintained and developed by the Border Road Organisation (BRO). The meeting was attended by Mr. Parvez Dewan, Advisor to the Governor; Lt. General Suresh Kumar, Director General BRO; Mr. P.K Tripathi, Principal Secretary to the Governor; Mr. Rohit Kansal, Commissioner PW(R&B) Department and Brigadier Biswajit Bhattacharya, Chief Engineer SAMPARK.The Governor was apprised of the status of maintenance and ongoing works on Jammu-Poonch National Highway (NH144A); Basohli-Bani Bhaderwah Road; Batote-Kishtwar road (NH 244); Parimpora–Shalteng-Narbal part of NH1( Leh-Srinagar-Baramulla-Uri ) road; and Baramulla-Rafiabad-Kupwara-Tangdhar roads.The Governor observed that keeping in view the strategic and economic importance of NH144A, the road from Akhnoor onwards which is under the control of BRO is required to be developed to National Highways standards by carrying out major improvements such as cross drainage works, surfacing and geometrics.
The Governor directed expeditious up-gradation of Basohli-Bani-Bhaderwah road and other related improvements in order to make this road an effective alternate connection to Chenab Valley and onwards to Kashmir. Once completed this road will provide an all weather alternate corridor to Chenab Valley, tourists and Shri Amarnathji Yatra pilgrims.The Governor was informed that snow is being cleared near Simthan Pass and 9 km of road stretch from Achabal to Donipawa on Batote Kishtwar road is also being widened. The Governor directed timely completion of snow clearance work to make the road trafficable well in time.The Governor directed that four laning of Parimpora-Shalteng-Narbal road sanctioned under Prime Minister’s Reconstruction Programme and development works on Srinagar-Sonamarg sector must be completed on priority. He also reviewed the work of up-gradation of Srinagar-Uri-LoC road, double laning of Srinagar-Leh road via Kargil, Uri-Kamanpost road, and work on the Nimu Padam Darcha road.
The Governor discussed the need to improve and widen the Mughal Road links from Bafliaz to Rajouri and to Surankote for encouraging traffic on this alternate route connecting Kashmir Valley to the rest of the country. The to-date status of maintenance and up-gradation of roads in the border towns by BEACON and SAMPARK and various other important and critical roads maintained by BRO were also discussed in the meeting.The Governor noted the feasibility studies undertaken by BEACON on Basti- Chattergala tunnel on Basohli-Bani-Bhaderwah Road, Sadhana Pass tunnel on Kupwara to Karnah road and Razdan pass tunnel on Bandipora-Gurez road.The Governor urged Mr. Dewan, Advisor to the Governor, to fix timelines for land acquisition process on these important road projects and asked DG BRO to direct all his officers to maintain close co-ordination with Commissioner PWD. The Governor also reiterated his earlier directions that Commissioner PWD should hold monthly review meeting to resolve all issues pertaining to land acquisition and other impediments, if any, in timely implementation of all National Highway and other important road works.