JAMMU: To provide succor to the residents of three villages in Kalota, Humbal and Bergana in Doda district, the Modi Government has sanctioned a Rs 13.74 crore road project to link these villages with under construction new National Highway 244 from Khellani to Goha onwards in Marmat area. Moreover to lessen the distance between Bhaderwah and Himachal Pradesh (HP), the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the six kilometer long Kaljugar tunnel on a small hill lock near Bhaderwah has been prepared and tendering process will be started after the code of conduct ends. Union Minster Dr Jitendra Singh said that with construction of this tunnel, Doda -Bhaderwah will be connected with Chamba in Himachal Pradesh and it will lessen the distance of two neighboring places having similar culture. The sanction of the road project for villages of Kalota, Humbal and Bergana was today accorded by Minister of Road Transport and Highways of India, Nitin Gadkari on the request of Union Minister in PMO, Dr Jitendra Singh who represents Kathua, Udhampur and Doda Lok Sabha constituency. Terming National Highway 244 a game changer Highway, Dr Jitendra Singh said it passes from Khellani to Sudhmahadev Goha in Marmat area. He said the road project will be completed within three months. This road will provide a lot of succor to the inhabitants of these villages as they will be linked to NH 244 with quality roads. Dr Jitendra Singh said that the demand was placed by him before Nitin Gadkari when he visited Doda in 2021. He added that NH 244 will be an alternative Highway from Jammu to Srinagar in Kashmir valley. The NH 244 starts near Khanabal in Anantnag and it passes through Achabal, Kokernag, Daksum, Sinthan Pass, Kishtwar via Thathri towards Doda till Batote. It will boost both pilgrimage as well eco tourism in this entire belt. The people of native villages celebrated the occasion. Dr Jitendra Singh said the area which was earlier deprived of a motorable road will now get a special road. This has all been possible because of Narendra Modi Government’s concern for the welfare of the people living in far off villages of the country which were hitherto neglected by earlier Governments for their vote bank politics, the Union Minister added. He said the erstwhile Doda region faced total neglect during the earlier Governments despite the fact that the public representatives from this region were ministers in Union as well as the erstwhile State Governments but after seeking the vote they never bothered for the development of the region and welfare of the people. Dr Jitendra Singh said that despite the region having lot of potential for power generation, no attention was paid for power generation in this entire belt by taping the water of mighty Chenab and its tributaries. This would have not only enabled the State to meet its own need but enabled it to export the surplus power to other States and boost the economy. He said it was Narendra Modi Government that resumed the work on Rattle Power Project in Kishtwar which was stopped during the regime of NC-Congress and also sanctioned other power projects in Kishtwar district on which work is going with pace now.
