New Delhi, Apr 14: Former Minister and State President JKNPP, Harsh Dev Singh Friday submitted a memorandum to Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari seeking fulfilment of his commitment regarding double laning of Udhampur–Ghordi road in District Udhampur.
According to a party statement Singh reminded minister about a public commitment made during election campaign in 2014 regarding double laning of the 38 km road from Udhampur to Ghordi.
“We are aware that you had issued instructions in this regard for execution of the said road project under CRF and the work was also started but regretfully abandoned merely after straightening a few curves,” he said in the letter shot to the minister.
“The result is that out of 38 kms of single road, it is only about 8-9 kms that has been double-laned leaving the rest around 30 kms of road in shabby condition”.
Singh said on public agitation over the issue, it was said that funds under CRF had been stopped by the centre and that around 18 kms of single lane stretch would be black-topped under PMGSY and that double laning of the same was not possible.
The NPP leader informed the minister that local administration asked that there were no funds for even black-topping and upgradation of the around 10 kms of single lane road up to Kaldi which continued to be in the most deplorable condition and unfit for traffic.
“Most shocking however is the fact that there is no bridge on river Tawi at Salmay falling on the alignment of the said road. Around 1000 vehicles ply every day on the said road catering to a population of over 1.50 lacs”. He said in the absence of a bridge, all the said vehicles are using an aqueduct to cross over the river.
He told the minister that that even his commitments and directions have not been taken seriously resulting in public uproar and resentment.
Harsh Dev appealed to the Union Minister that double lane from Udhampur to Ghordi along with the bridge on its alignment at Salmay be constructed as assured and committed by him in the public rally held in 2014 so that the public of the area could heave a sigh of relief.
