Union Minister of State for Development of North Eastern Region, Dr Jitendra Singh today said that time has come to gear up men and machinery for accelerating the pace of development in the Jammu and Kashmir and enable the people to reap maximum benefit from series of projects taken up in the state.Jitendar Singh was addressing a public gathering after inaugurating newly constructed Bhini Bridge at Billawar of Kathua district executed by BRO under Project Sampark.The bridge having span of 259 Mtr has been built over river Bhini at 42.59 KM on Dhar-Udhampur road and completed at an estimated cost of Rs 22 Crore.The union home Minister said that the ambitious project has great strategic importance as it provided an alternate link along the National Highway from Jammu to Pathankot besides tackling increasing traffic on the road.Jitendar Singh said that the Central Govt. is committed to facilitate State Government in achieving the targets set for making Jammu and Kashmir a model and developed State. He expressed his delight and said the long pending demand of the people living in Billawar has been met with the commissioning of this Bridge. He further said that it will not only improve connectivity to the area with neighboring states of Punjab and Himachal but also decreases travel time.
Dr Singh also announced Rs 1 Crore from his MPLAD fund for development of stadium at Bhaddu, conservation of ponds, augmentation of health infra and construction of community hall at Billawar. He also said that provision for installing Solar Lights on this bridge is under active consideration.He said centre has sanctioned Rs 2800 Crore under PMGSY for J&K and Kathua – Udhampur parliamentary constituency would also get its due share. He further stated that all PMGSY projects will be completed in the year 2018-19, thus giving major fillip to road connectivity.
Listing various ambitious projects taken up in Kathua, he said ambitious Chattergala Tunnel project proposed on Basholi Bahderwah road has been formally approved to provide an all-weather inter district connectivity. He also announced that Keerian-Gandial bridge will be completed by June 2018 adding that the another ambitious tunnel project proposed at Sundrikot will make Kathua a cornerstone of the overall development of this parliamentary constituency.MLA Bani, Jeevan Lal said that all the major projects taken up in the area would be completed on time due to focused attention of union Dr Jitendar Singh. He also projected some demands before the MP which mainly pertains to construction of tunnel between Kathua and Billawar to lessen the travel distance and improve connectivity between Billawar-Bani by bringing Phinter-Bani under defence category road. He also thanked the minister for AIIMS, Medical, Engineering Colleges besides several roads under PMGSY and CRF.Among others present were ADG(NW), BRO, P K Mahajan; Chief Engg. Project Sampark, BRO, P K H Singh; SE GREF, Commander 13 BRTF, R P Bangar; Ex. Engg., OC 69 RCC, A P Sahi; DC Kathua , Ramesh Kumar; SSP Kathua, Suleman Choudhary; ADC Billawar, SDPO, Engineers, other District Officers and local residents in large numbers.