Dr Jitendra inaugurates Nora Bridge, announces 9 additional underpasses, flyover along Express corridor

KATHUA, Jan 22 : Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Earth Sciences, MoS, PMO, Department of Atomic Energy, Department of Space, Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Dr Jitendra Singh today inaugurated the vital Nora bridge along Lakhanpur-Thein Road in Basohli sector of district Kathua. The bridge constructed at a cost of Rs 1646.88 lac was a long pending public demand and provides a vital picturesque link reducing the travel time by around two hours.

On the occasion, Dr Jitendra Singh also announced nine additional under-passes and one flyover at Kalibari along the under construction Express corridor, in response to demand from local people living in these respective locations.Dr Jitendra Singh said, in his third term as MP in the third term of PM Narendra Modi 3.0, the other notable achievements in Kathua include completion of long pending Juthana bridge, beginning of first session of Centrally funded North India’s first Homeopathic College, approval of Rs 30,345 cr Chattergala project, decision to shift Industrial Biotech Park to PPP model, completion of last phase of Shahpur Kandi project, revival in principal of 100 year old Ujh Multipurpose Project etc.

Dr Jitendra Singh said, Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir was ignored by earlier governments for political reasons, but in last years this has been sought to be made up by starting several new national projects and reviving the stalled ones.Referring to nine underpasses now to be constructed on the Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Express corridor for the convenience of the public, Dr Jitendra Singh underlined that this demand had been met four days ago. He stated that plans are on the anvil to turn Kathua into a major hub of trade and tourism.

Dr. Jitendra Singh was addressing a public rally here during the inauguration of the 191-metre long Nora Bridge costing 1700 lakh rupees. He said the construction of the double-lane bridge meets a long-pending demand. He said the local people will no longer have to face inconvenience while traveling from Bani to Basohli.

The construction of the bridge, said Dr Jitendra Singh said, alternate alignment of Lakhanpur-Thein road, was necessitated by the submergence of some portion of Nora Nallah falling in Panchayat Thein of district Kathua. Dr Singh underlined that the fulfilment of the public demand manifests the government’s commitment to ensuring ease of travel for the locals.

The Minister informed that Juthana Bridge is ready, and it will be inaugurated soon. He said after assuming charge as the Prime Minister Modi resolved to carry out development in the underdeveloped and previously-neglected areas. He said the aim was to bring these areas at par with places already touched by development on many fronts.

Dr. Jitendra Singh informed that fulfilling another popular public demand and to assuage the concerns of local populace vis-à-vis livelihoods, the government has decided to build nine under passes on the Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Express Corridor, including two at Dayala Check, as many as at Hatli Morh, and two each at Rajbagh and Chanrorian, and one at Koodah. Also, an elevated flyover at Kalibari is also proposed, Dr Singh further informed.

The Union Minister also informed the gathering that the government approved last week the Chattergala project built at an estimated cost of 30,345 crore rupees. As part of the ambitious project, the strategic tunnel costing 4245 crore rupees which will connect Kathua to Doda via Basohli Bani and Bhaderwah.The Minister noted that the travel time between Doda and Kathua will be reduced significantly to only three hours. He said a DND is proposed to be built Doda and Dalhousie in Himachal Pradesh.

Talking about the achievements of the government in the past six months in other parts of this Lok Sabha constituency, the Minister highlighted many new key projects in the area that include Sudhmahadev Tunnel, in district Doda a new road link connecting villages like Humbal, Burgana and Dr Jitendra Singh’s native village of Kalhota with under construction NH-224. He said these projects will be game-changers in the development journey of the entire region.