CM directs speedy completion of Jammu -Srinagar four lane work

Chief minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday issued directions to National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) to ensure timely completion of the four-lane of the Jammu-Srinagar highway upto Udhampur.

Chief minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday issued directions to National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) to ensure timely completion of the four-lane of the Jammu-Srinagar highway upto Udhampur.

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The CM asked the authority to ensure the completion of the prestigious 2,400-crore Jammu Udhampur four-lane highway project before the upcoming assembly elections in the state so that it could be added to the developmental works completed during his tenure. The CM also took a ride on the highway and inspected the ongoing works.

Accompanied by roads and buildings minister Abdul Majid Wani and National Conference (NC) provincial president Devender Singh Rana, the CM stopped at various tunnels and inspected major bridges en route the 65 km- Jammu-Udhampur national highway.

Giving details of project, officers of the NHAI said that the authority was all set to commission 75% of the four-lane Jammu-Udhampur highway for vehicular traffic. "Excluding a few small stretches of the road, tunnels at Nandni and one of the Jhajjar Kotli bridges, the entire 64.6-km long highway is almost ready for commissioning," added the officials.

They added that a final layer of bitumen is being laid on the widened road, which is likely to be completed within a week.

Omar also sought a detailed report of the safety measures being brought up during the construction of four-lane highway, including placement of ambulances. He also inspected the toll plaza being constructed at Bantalab, 15 km ahead of Jammu city, and discussed the charges which would be taken by the NHAI once the project was complete.