Director General, Border Roads Organisation, Lt. Gen. Harpal Singh, called on the Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti here today and discussed several projects under execution in the State by his organization.During the meeting, the Chief Minister sought details of the widening of Srinagar-Baramulla-Uri stretch of the National Highway and asked for early finalization of the DPR. She suggested making the entire stretch a green alignment and asked for constructing Bye Passes at Pattan and Baramulla to ensure that minimal dislocations of structures and utilities is effected and the developed areas remain untouched while the Highway is widened.The DG BRO informed the Chief Minister that the DPR formulation for the project is being finalized and the suggestion for construction of Bye Passes at Pattan and Baramulla would be incorporated.The Chief Minister also pressed for construction of tunnels at Sadhna and Razdan Passes on Kupwara-Karnah and Bandipore-Gurez roads in order to provide round the year connectivity to the people of these areas.Lt. Gen. Harpal Singh also informed the Chief Minister that 19 kilometres road on either side of Razdan Pass in Kupwara are being upgraded and so is the road on either side of Sadhna Pass.
Mehbooba Mufti also asked the DG BRO to expedite the work on Loran-Gulmarg Road so that it is completed at the earliest.She also pressed for start of work on the upgradation of Rajouri-Thanamandi-Surankote road, Gurez-Tulail road, Reasi-Arnas-Mahore road and pacing up of work on the Jammu-Akhnoor-Poonch road in view of the heavy rush of Shahdara Sharief devotees.The DG BRO also informed the Chief Minister that three more roads are being upgraded to priority sector in the State by his organization. These include Kishtwar-Bangus-Drangyari road, Brinjal-Kali Jinjer road connecting Baramulla with Handwara and Furkian-Kalaroos road. He also informed her that BRO has prepared a DPR of Rs. 80 crore for stabilization and repairs of Jawahar tunnel, a demand which was raised by the Chief Minister during her meeting with Union Minister for Roads & Highways, Nitin Gadkari.Lt. Gen. Harpal Singh assured the Chief Minister that his organization would expedite the work on the road projects mentioned by her to complete them at the earliest. He also informed her that more snow cutter machines and equipment would be inducted this year in the State on the roads manned by the BRO.