Kargil delegation calls on R&B Minister
Expresses gratitude for approval of funds for Kargil- Zanskar road
(J&K, 27 January 2014, Ladakh News Service)
A delegation led by former MLA Ghulam Raza today called on the Minister for Roads & Buildings Mr. Abdul Majid Wani to convey gratitude for making efforts to seek sanction of funds for improvement and widening of Kargil-Zanskar road from the Union Ministry of Surface Road Transport.
The widening work on 235 kilometres Kargil-Zanskar road is being taken up at a cost of Rs.600 crore under Central Road Fund (CRF) - on which the work would be started soon. The road was declared National Highway (NH) in 2013.
The Minister said that the widening and upgradation of Kargil-Zanskar road was the long pending demand of the people of the area after the formation of Council which is going to be fulfilled.
The Minister complimented the people of LAHDC Kargil, particularly the people of Zanskar Valley for getting mega road project for the area. He said that the approved road is lifeline for Zanskar Valley and its construction would improve overall condition of the people by promoting economic activities in the area. He said the Zanskar Valley has ample tourism potential, adding that easy and standardized accessibility would also give a fillip to tourism activities and help in ameliorating economic conditions of the people of the area.
Admiring the high spirit of people of LAHDC Kargil, the Minister said that Republic Day celebrations were observed with great enthusiasm and patriotism despite present prevailing weather conditions in the area.
The delegation also conveyed thanks to UPA Chairperson Mrs. Sonia Gandhi, Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, Union Transport Minister Mr. Oscar Fernandes for approval of the funds for the project.
The members of the delegation also expressed gratitude to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah whom intervention brought the result.
Executive Councillor, LAHDC, Kargil Skalzang Wangyal, Councillor Lungnak, Mr. Stanzin Sonam, former Executive Councillor Mr Sonam Namgial, besides Stanzin Youngdus, Rigzin Aling, Stanzin Jigmet, Stanzin Lotus and Stanzin Tonyot were among the members of the delegation.
WORK TO BEGIN ON TUNNEL FROM LADAKH
K. BALCHAND, The Hindu, 28.09.12
The Rs. 2700-crore tunnel is the first of the two tunnels to be constructed on the Srinagar-Kargil-Ladakh stretch.
The first initiative to provide connectivity throughout the year with Ladakh, which remains severed from the country for at least six wintery months, will be taken up on October 4.
Congress general secretary, Rahul Gandhi, will lay the foundation stone of a 6.5 km-long tunnel, popularly referred to as Z-Morh, the plans for which were finalised by Union
Minister for Road Transport and Highways, C. P. Joshi, on Thursday.
The function will be attended by Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, and Union Ministers, Ghulam Nabi Azad and Farooq Abdullah, and Pradesh Congress Committee chief, Saifuddin Soz.
The Rs. 2,700-crore tunnel is the first of the two tunnels to be constructed to connect the Srinagar-Kargil-Ladakh stretch, the strategic importance of which was underlined during the Kargil war
of 1999.
The tunnel under consideration, located in Ganderbal district, will connect Srinagar with Sonamarg, and the second tunnel of 12.5-km length — Zojila — will be kick-started in
July 2013.
The bids for the project, to be built under Build-Operate-Transfer mode (Annuity), will be taken up on October 15.
Apart from unfavourable climate and heavy snow, the stretch is frequently affected by major avalanches.
The new route will help the region and its people, and also sustain the troops posted in the Ladakh region.
