Restoration of Batote-Kishtwar highway begins

Doda, January 2

The government has started the restoration work on 170-km Batote-Kishtwar national highway, which is sinking at several places and is in a poor shape.

The government has released Rs 95 crore for the immediate restoration of this crucial national highway NH-244 which is in a poor shape and claimed several lives in road accidents in recent years.

“Batote to Kishtwar highway is the only road connecting the twin mountainous districts of Doda and Kishtwar, but previous regimes had never made any attempts to restore this crucial highway,” Minister of State Sunil Sharma said while addressing a public gathering at Thathri, Doda. “The restoration work, including blacktopping of the highway from Batote to Kishtwar- Chatroo, will be completed within a year’s time,” a senior PWD officer said. — OC