Union Minister of State for Home, G Kishan Reddy Wednesday visited Ganderbal as part of Union Government's public interface program and assured people that development, peace and economic prosperity would soon change fortunes of people in Jammu and Kashmir.He was flanked by Advisor to Lt. Governor, Rajeev Rai Bhatnagar, Principal Secretary Home Affairs, Shaleen Kabra, DDC, Ganderbal Hashmat Ali Khan and other officers.While addressing a gathering, Reddy said that the agenda to visit the place is to meet people, listen to their issues and come up with a developmental plan in all spheres.The Minister distributed pension cards among the widows and downtrodden under Prime Minister’s Pension Yojana.He said that the Union government has come up with the concept of Golden Card through which deserving segments of the society can afford the treatment of upto Rs 5 lakh. He said so far 3.5 lakh families have received this card in J&K.During his interaction with the newly elected Block Development Council representatives, the Minister reiterated that the conduct of BDC elections in Jammu and Kashmir was a big step towards the empowerment of people. He said that through these representatives the government gets firsthand account of people’s grievances and feedback on different initiatives.In his address, the Minister assured the people of the area that the Union government is committed to develop villages on modern lines and electrification of all inhabited villages through the Saubhagya scheme is one step towards that.The Minister later e-inaugurated multiple developmental projects in the district, with a total estimated cost of Rs 20.39 crores, which includes construction of multipurpose hall at Government Degree College, construction of mini pavilion block at sports stadium, construction of 100 bedded girls hostel, development of Nininara Island in the Manasbal Lake.He also laid foundation stone for the construction of two lane byepass road from Ganderbal to Duderhama upto district head office complex, which he said was a long pending demand of people and will serve as a byepass to Kheerbawani temple. He said that road connectivity is imperative for growth and development of an area and the Centre is pushing hard towards it.