Jammu, May 14 (UNI) Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh on Saturday said that the Lok Sabha constituency of Udhampur-Kathua-Doda has in the last eight years got a record number of PMGSY roads and bridges.
He was reviewing a record number of 68 roads and 22 bridges completed recently under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY).
However, the formal inauguration ceremony was deferred due to state mourning observed as a mark of respect to the passing away of UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al-Nahyan.
Built at a cost of over Rs 547 crore, all-weather roads measuring up to 526 kilometres is likely to benefit a population of over one lakh 20,000 people, most of them living in far-flung hilly areas, he added.
He said despite serious challenges posed by the COVID pandemic, barring few, all the projects were completed within stipulated time frame and emphasised that despite challenges posed by pandemic, the country had not compromised with the pace of development and particularly the UT of Jammu and Kashmir.
“Roads are the lifeline of a developing nation which will bring benefits in various sectors like education, health, marketing of agricultural produce and will bring many social benefits as well,” said Singh.
He also reviewed the completion work of 22 bridges constructed at a cost of Rs 29.50 crores and the same will also be dedicated to the people soon.
Singh said that in the last 7-8 years of Modi government, the work culture in the country has undergone a sea change and projects are now being cleared on need-based requirements, rather than on any other considerations.
He emphasised that in sanctioning of new road projects, the priority is given to views of Sarpanches and other local elected representatives rather than to requests made by local MPs or MLAs.
Singh also informed that his Parliamentary constituency of Udhampur-Kathua-Doda received the highest allocation of PMGSY grant since 2014 in Jammu and Kashmir.
He said, “Out of the Rs 4,175 crore of PMGSY Central funds for new projects, about Rs 3,884 crore have been allocated, which is nearly two-thirds of the funds for the hilly and inhospitable terrain of Udhampur-Kathua-Doda.”
At the review meeting, he highlighted the government’s initiatives towards strengthening road connectivity in the UT, and said that it was the firm commitment of present dispensation that every part of Jammu and Kashmir gets a durable road network for rapid growth and development.
He said the government was committed to provide the benefit of schemes like PMAY, PMGSY and MGNREGA to the people living in far-off panchayats and blocks and other difficult areas of Jammu and Kashmir.
He urged the officials of various departments to work in coordination with PRI members and create SOPs for better coordination and synergy, so that the goal of Inclusive development could be achieved.