Govt approves Rs 3,382-cr highway projects in J&K

The government today approved two highway projects in Jammu & Kashmir involving total investment of about Rs 3,383 crore.
"The Prime Minister in the campaign (election) has always committed that Government of India stands committed to improve the infrastructure in Jammu & Kashmir. Accordingly the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has cleared these two projects worth Rs 3,382.66 crore," Communications & IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad told reporters here.
He said the projects are related to strengthening important National Highways in the state and the government fulfilled its promise of improving infrastructure in J&K.
The first project of four-laning of Ramban-Banihal section of National Highway - 1A (now NH-44) in Jammu & Kashmir will cost Rs 1,623.98 crore.

Another project is related to four laning of Udhampur- Ramban section of National Highway. The 40.07-km road project will cost Rs 1,758.68 crore.
"Implementation of these projects would provide all-weather connectivity from Jammu to the Kashmir valley. It will also reduce journey time from Jammu to Srinagar and strategic border areas in the state of J&K," an official release said.
Both the projects will be built under engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) mode and work will be under the National Highways Development Project Phase -II, the release said.