NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be inaugurating and laying the foundation stone of multiple development initiatives worth around Rs 20,000 crore on Sunday, with the government stating that since the introduction of constitutional reforms with regard to Jammu and Kashmir in August 2019, the Centre is focused on bringing benefits of development to the people.
The projects being inaugurated and whose foundation stones are being laid during this visit will go a long way in facilitating the provision of basic amenities, ensuring ease of mobility and development of infrastructure in the region, the Prime Minister’s office said in a statement
The Prime Minister will undertake a visit to Jammu and Kashmir to participate in the celebration of National Panchayati Raj Day on April 24 at around 11.30 am and address all the Gram Sabhas across the country. He will visit Palli Panchayat in the Samba district.
During the visit, the Prime Minister will inaugurate the Banihal Qazigund Road tunnel, built at a cost of over Rs 3,100 crore. The 8.45 km long tunnel would reduce the road distance between Banihal and Qazigund by 16 km, and reduce journey time by around one and a half hours. It is a twin tube tunnel – one for each direction of travel – with the twin tubes being interconnected by a cross passage every 500m, for maintenance and emergency evacuation. The tunnel would help establish an all weather connection between Jammu and Kashmir and bring the two regions closer.
The Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone of three road packages of Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway, being built at a cost of over Rs 7,500 crore, for the construction of 4/6 lane access controlled Delhi-Katra-Amritsar Expressway, from Balsua on NH-44 to Gurha Baildaran, Hiranagar; Gurha Baildaran, Hiranagar to Jakh, Vijaypur; and Jakh, Vijaypur to Kunjwani, Jammu to boost connectivity to Jammu Airport.
