Says UT to witness 4 times increase in tourist footfall in coming years
Srinagar: Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari Monday said that developmental works worth Rs 1,25,000 crore are being taken up by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways in Jammu and Kashmir. He also said that the Union Territory is going to witness three to four times increase in tourist footfall in coming years.
Since 2014, around 500 km road network has been completed in the region, and about 1700 km roads are being constructed at a cost of Rs 75,000 crores, he added.
He said this while interacting with media at Srinagar today after completing an inspection of the strategic Zojila and Z Morh tunnels earlier in the day.
He said that about 41 significant tunnels are being constructed in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh at a cost of Rs 45,000 crore. Ropeways worth Rs 5,000 crore will be constructed in the UT of Jammu and Kashmir, he added.
The Minister said that in order to make the journey between Jammu and Srinagar comfortable, three corridors worth Rs 35,000 crores are being constructed. He said that the earlier distance of 320 kms between Jammu and Srinagar will get reduced by 70 km after the completion of these corridors.
The design of four laning of Jammu-Srinagar highway is based on geo-technical and geo-scientific investigations to reduce the obstacles caused by landslides, the Minister informed the gathering.
Gadkari said that a new 78 km 4-lane ring road is being constructed in Srinagar at a cost of Rs 4,660 crores.
The Minister further said that a four lane road will be constructed from Khanabal to Panjtarni to ease up the journey of Amarnath pilgrimage.
The Minister said that by the improvement in road infrastructure, J&K is going to witness three to four times increase in tourist footfall in coming years.
Gadkari said that 38 per cent work has been completed on the Zojila tunnel till date and work is on at full pace to complete the remaining work. He added that the Z Morh tunnel will be thrown open in October 2023.