Underlining the importance of better roads for development, Minister for Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, Choudhary Zulfkar Ali today said that provision of surface connectivity to all areas is being given first priority by the present government.“Dependable network of roads is the pre-requisite for the development of an area and to achieve this goal many new projects have been taken up while those existing are being upgraded” the Minister asserted.Zulfkar was addressing a gathering after launching the macadamization work on Rajouri-Darhal road, meeting the long pending demand of the people dozens of villages connected by this vital road to the district headquarter.Highlighting the achievements of the present coalition government, the Minister said during last two years special focus is being laid on the road connectivity.“Many important road projects have been completed in the state and work is afoot on many more projects which will connect hitherto unconnected areas and upgrade the existing road network to accelerate development, trade and commerce”, the Minister maintained.He informed that besides taking up projects under state sector the funds received under Pardhan Mantri Gram Sarak Yojna will further strengthen the road network in the state. He said that Darhal Road is an important road link and seeing its dilapidated condition the state Government prioritized its macadamization and upgrading. He added that other roads of his home constituency would also be macadamized in due course of time.
Later the Minister laid foundation stone of Girls Hostel at Village Planger. Being constructed at a cost of Rs 2.82 crore, the hostel will provide accommodation to one hundred girls. The Minister said that education sector has undergone tremendous positive change and many new initiatives have been taken by the government to streamline the existing education system.“The government is constructing girls hostel in all the educationally backward blocks of the state so that the poor girls should not stop their studies due to lack of accommodation”, he said. The Minister called upon the people to educate their wards especially girls for the overall development of the society.The Minister asked the executing agencies to gear up their men and machinery to complete all the projects in stipulated time frame so that people get early benefits of development.The Minister also asked the district administration to hold regular meeting with the executing agencies to ensure proper monitoring and quality of work. “The periodical review of the developmental works should be a made a regular feature of the administrative functioning”, he said.District Development Commissioner Rajouri Shabir Ahmed Batt, SSP Rajeshwar Singh, ADDC G.S Chib besides heads of various line departments were present on the occasion.