Centre begins massive exercise to overhaul road infrastructure in Jammu and Kashmir
Experts said potholed roads particularly the highways slow down the troops and thus making them vulnerable to terror attacks.
In Short
- There have been 6 attacks on armed forces in the last 8 months.
- Construction of these roads is being taken under CRF scheme.
- More than Rs 165 crore has been disbursed for the projects.
In wake of recent attacks on armed forces, the Centre has begun a massive exercise to overhaul the road infrastructure in Jammu and Kashmir. Identifying broken roads as a major hurdle during movement of security forces, redevelopment of 50 roads have been taken up in the state. Experts said potholed roads particularly the highways slow down the troops and thus making them vulnerable to terror attacks like the one in Pampore on June 25, where militants attacked a CRPF convoy killing 8 personnel. There have been six attacks on Indian armed forces in the last 8 months in Jammu and Kashmir.
CONSTRUCTION OF ROADS WILL COST RS 450 CRORE
According to the Ministry of Road, Transport and Highways, work is in progress for redevelopment of 50 roads, including some in the sensitive areas. The cost of the work is nearly Rs 450 crore. Some of these roads fall in areas like Akhnoor, Samba, Budgam, Tral, Sopore, Shopian and others. A transport ministry official said construction of these roads is being taken under Central Road Fund (CRF) scheme. According to the government, more than Rs 165 crore has already been disbursed for the projects.
BRO TO EXPEDITE CONSTRUCTION OF 70 ROADS
In another development, the Centre has also directed that Border Road Organisation (BRO) to expedite construction of nearly 70 roads in the Jammu and Kashmir. An official said the Centre has also taken up the matter with the state government by setting up an empowered panel to oversee the execution of these projects. Officials said these road projects along the international border in the state of Jammu and Kashmir have mainly been delayed due to problems over forest and wildlife clearance, limited working season, difficulties in the availability of construction material and delay in land acquisition.
Sources said the construction of roads in the state would pick up pace given the BJP-PDP alliance government in Jammu and Kashmir. The centre has been aggressively pushing for road infrastructure in bordering areas particularly Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand and the north eastern states.
STRATEGICALLY IMPORTANT ROADS
Some of these projects are in the strategically crucial Ladakh region where faceoff between the Indian and the Chinese troops have become rather frequent in recent times. Sources said the security establishments have often raised concerns over the issue.
These road projects are crucial keeping in view the preparedness of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) which guards the Indian territory in the region. These projects become all the more important during winters when a number of ITBP posts get disconnected due to heavy snowfall.
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