Minister for Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, Choudhary Zulfkar Ali on Wednesday while pushing for early completion of various road works in his Darhal Constituency of Rajouri district said better road connectivity is correlated with economic development as it promotes access to economic and social services.In a review meeting with the officials of Road and Building (R&B), and Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), the Minister exhorted all concerned authorities to ensure that all road works are completed at the earliest and with the best possible quality.The Minister said lack of road connectivity is one of the major infrastructural deficiencies in the remote districts. He said improvement in connectivity will greatly help in reaching out to people living in remote areas, adding making various services available by smooth accessibility would also help in enhancing agricultural incomes and employment opportunities.Regarding widening and upgradation of Kotranka to Khwas road which stands sanctioned under Centre Road Fund (CRF) for estimated cost of Rs 76.2 crores, Chief Engineer, R&B Jammu Mr. Alok Mangi informed that the allotment has been made recently and the work on the project would be started soon.
The meeting was also informed presently in stage one construction of two roads, Kewal to Targain road, and Marasi Morh to Bagyal Kot is underway under CRF, and for stage two detailed project report would soon be prepared and would be submitted in next 15 days.Besides, the meeting was also informed that under National Bank For Agriculture & Rural Development (NABARD) five schemes were completed during the current year, while the six more schemes with a length of 25 kms would be completed in next financial year.The meeting was also informed that Kassian to Thanamang, and Thanamang to Prori road that is sanctioned at an estimated cost of Rs 31 crore under Phase 10 and the work will start soon.While assuring the Minister that all the recent works that R&B has been undertaken under NABARD would be completed within two and half years time only, the Minister was also informed that Government Degree College Budal building would also be completed within 18 months after the onset of the construction work.Chief Engineer, PMGSY, PL Bhushan, Superintendent Engineer, Abdula Majeed, Executive Engineer, R&B Saddiq Wani, Conservator, Rajouri, Q D Khouja, and other concerned officers were present in the meeting.