Forest clearance awaited on nearly 8 kms stretch
Will become shortest route to Jammu, Kathua
Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, Nov 30: Billawar-Bani road via Katli and Taggar is being brought under Central Road Fund (CRF) shortly with upgradation in the existing road and it will turn as shortest route from remote Bani Sub Division in district Kathua to winter capital- Jammu.
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Official sources said that Forest clearance on hardly 8 kms of the stretch between Cheu and Dhamaan ( In Taggar) is awaited for the last over seven years, otherwise, this road could have been operational for the last more than 5-6 years. With the commissioning of this link, there will be direct road connectivity of the areas like Machhedi and Lohai-Malhar with Bani Constituency. The people from Machhedi and Lohai-Malhar have to cover a long distance via Billawar, Mahanpur and Basohli to reach Bani Sub Divisional headquarters.
Sources further said that this road from Bani was constructed under PMGSY in two phases. Almost 25 kms of road from Bani to Taggar is complete. From Taggar to Dhaman, about 5 kms road is Kucha. While about six to eight kms of the stretch between Dhaman and Deri Galla is yet to be constructed. The construction agency failed to get clearance from the J&K Forest department during last seven years. This is the only bottleneck between the two sides. The concerned officials and the public representatives from Bani and even Billawar in the past failed to take initiative for seeking Forest clearance and connect this 6-8 kms left out road patch.
This vital road link, connecting Defence Road/Dhar Road and ensuring shortest route to Jammu from remote Bani Sub Division of district Kathua, could not turn reality as the officials at the helm of affairs did not show any interest on this road connectivity, which is very important to connect half of the population of Bani Assembly Constituency. With the opening of this link, over 60,000 population from Bani Tehsil will be benefitted.
Union Minister in PMO, Dr Jitendra Singh (Concerned MP) when connected disclosed that Bani-Taggar-Billawar Road is being brought under Central Road Fund (CRF) and it will also be upgraded. Earlier this road was constructed under PMGSY but now PWD will take over this road.
Referring to the importance of this road, Dr Singh said that this vital road will provide direct link to Defence Road (Pathankote-Udhampur highway) and also to the Pathankote-Basohli-Bani-Doda-Kishtwar- Anantnag highway. This is very vital in defence point of view, he added.
Dr Singh said another road via Mata Bala Sunderi to Kathua is also coming up shortly and it will provide shortest road link to Kathua from Billawar. One will reach Kathua in just half an hour from Phintar to Kathua district headquarters when this road will be made operational, he said.
Chief Engineer, PW(R&B) & PMGSY Jammu, Rajesh Gupta when contacted said that from Bani side upto Taggar and even up to Dhamaan, 31 kms road is blacktopped. He said from Billawar up to Katli bridge, 17 kms road is Pucca while from Katli to Cheu and even ahead, up to Deri Galla, about 17 kms road is Kucha. In between about 8 Kms patch is missing and Forest clearance is awaited on it. This rest of the portion is being taken up under CRF and PW(R&B) Deptt will initiate work on it. He said the department will take up matter related to forest clearance with the concerned officials.
When asked why about 8 kms of patch was left without connected/ abandoned for the last more than a decade, Chief Engineer said earlier a DPR was prepared but the PMGSY authorities in Delhi rejected that proposal as there was no habitation in between. Now, fresh DPR is being prepared and the PWD will take up this road.
Gupta said he did not know about the fate of old DPR, but the project cost will certainly escalate now as compared to the old DPR. He said the Union Minister in PMO, Dr Jitendra Singh who happens to be the MP from the area, is taking keen initiative for the upgradation of this road under Central Road Fund. “It will be our priority to connect two Tehsils of Bani and Billawar directly by opening this vital road link shortly,” Chief Engineer Jammu said.
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