Udhampur, Jan 14: Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology; MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh on Sunday laid the foundation stone for the long-delayed road project from Ramnagar to Ramwail in Udhampur district. The project, with a budget of 2.96 crore rupees, had been entangled in litigation for an extended period until the minister’s personal efforts led to its resolution.
Dr Jitendra highlighted the vital importance of the connectivity project for the region and stated that, under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, road connectivity has been extended to even the remotest areas of Udhampur. He underscored the commitment of the current government to equitable development, bringing every region at par with developed areas.
Recalling the inception of the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) under former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Dr Singh noted that in the 15 years until 2014, approximately 3.7 lakh kilometres of PMGSY roads were built in the country. However, in the nine-and-a-half years under Prime Minister Modi, this length has doubled to exceed 8 lakh kilometres. Udhampur, he proudly stated, ranks among the top three PMGSY road projects in the country.
Expressing regret for the neglect the region faced in the past, the union minister lauded the commitment of Prime Minister Modi to equitable development. “The government, under Modi’s patronage, has brought unprecedented facilities to remote areas, surpassing the expectations of the local population,” he said.
Highlighting the achievements in his constituency, Dr Jitendra mentioned that it is the only one with two Vande Bharat Express trains, three centrally-funded medical colleges, and various other projects, including the Devika River Rejuvenation project, Katra-Delhi Express road corridor, North India’s first Industrial Biotech Park, and the national-level Shahpur Kandi Irrigation project.
