Jammu: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday launched multiple development projects in Jammu and Kashmir worth Rs 32,000 crore to "propel holistic development". He said that Jammu and Kashmir is "finally being freed from the clutches of dynastic politics" and Article 370 which was the "biggest hurdle in its development" has been removed.
Addressing a gathering in Dogri, PM Modi assured that his government will help the people of the region to realise dreams that they had been cherishing for the last 70 years. "The biggest hurdle in development was Article 370 and now it has been removed by our government. This will pave the way towards a balanced development. Now, I am here to ask people to help BJP get 370 seats and NDA 400 seats in the upcoming polls," he said.
Without naming Congress, PM Modi said, "It is for decades that Jammu and Kashmir had to suffer from dynastic politics. They were concerned about their own families and not their interests. I am happy that finally, Jammu and Kashmir is being freed from dynastic politics," he said, adding that "dynastic politics" will be replaced by "Viksit Bharat".
He said that earlier there would only be disappointing news about Jammu and Kashmir but today the situation has reversed. "Earlier we would hear of bombs, kidnappings and separation from Jammu and Kashmir. Now, we are moving forward toward development. By the term "developed India" we mean a "developed Jammu and Kashmir," he added.
PM Modi said that he has fulfilled the promise he had made in Jammu in 2014 and now there are IIT and IIM here. This is what's known as Modi's guarantee, he said. The government will boost tourism in this region in such a manner that people will forget Switzerland, he added.
The prime minister inaugurated a host of projects in the sectors of education, railway, aviation and roadways on the occasion.
He flagged off the first electric train and services between the stations of Baramulla and Sangaldan. Some railway projects that were inaugurated included a 48 km railway line along Banihal-Khari-Sumber-Sangaldan and an electrified section on Baramulla-Banihal-Sangaldan of 185.66 km. The railway projects are aimed at improving connectivity and boosting the overall economic development of the area.
Foundation stones for projects worth Rs 13,500 were also laid down for other parts of the country. These are campuses for IIT Bhilai, IIT Tirupati, IIT Jammu, IIITDM Kancheepuram, IIS, Central Sanskrit University at Devprayag and Agartala. Three new IIMs namely IIM Jammu, IIM Bodh Gaya and IIM Vidakhapatnam, 20 buildings of KVs and 12 JNVs were also inaugurated.
The construction of the new terminal building at Jammu airport was also initiated. The new terminal will accommodate 2,000 passengers.
This apart, PM Modi laid the foundation stones for Delhi-Amritsar expressway connecting Jammu to Katra and the expansion of the Srinagar Ring Road.
AIIMS Jammu
The Prime Minister inaugurated All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Vijaypur (Samba), Jammu. The institute, whose foundational stone was also laid by the Prime Minister in February 2019, is being established under the Central sector scheme Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana. Established at a cost of over 1660 crore and in an area spanning over 227 acres, the hospital is equipped with facilities like 720 beds, Medical College with 125 seats, Nursing College with 60 seats, AYUSH Block with 30 beds, residential accommodation for faculty and staff, hostel accommodation for UG and PG students, Night Shelter, Guest House, Auditorium, Shopping Complex etc.
The state-of-the-art hospital will provide high-quality patient care services in 18 Specialities and 17 Super Specialities including Cardiology, Gastroenterology, Nephrology, Urology, Neurology, Neurosurgery, Medical Oncology, Surgical Oncology, Endocrinology, Burns & Plastic Surgery. The Institute will have an Intensive Care Unit, Emergency & Trauma Unit, 20 Modular Operation Theatres, Diagnostic Laboratories, Blood Bank, Pharmacy etc.
The Hospital will also leverage Digital Health Infrastructure to reach out to far-flung areas of the region.
New Terminal Building, Jammu Airport
The Prime Minister laid the foundation stone for a new terminal building at Jammu Airport. To be spread over a 40,000 sqm area, the new terminal building will be equipped with modern facilities catering to about 2000 passengers during peak hours. The new terminal building will be environment friendly and will be built such that it showcases the local culture of the region.
It will strengthen air connectivity, boost tourism and trade and accelerate economic growth of the region.
Rail Projects
The Prime Minister dedicated to the nation various rail projects in Jammu and Kashmir including the new rail line between Banihal-Khari-Sumber-Sangaldan (48 Km) and the newly electrified Baramulla-Srinagar-Banihal-Sangaldan section (185.66 Km). The Prime Minister also flagged off the first Electric Train in the valley and also train service between Sangaldan station & Baramulla station.
The commissioning of the Banihal-Khari-Sumber-Sangaldan section is seen as a significant development as it features the usage of Ballast Less Track (BLT) all along the route providing a better riding experience to the passengers. Also, India’s longest transportation tunnel T-50 (12.77 Km) lies in this portion between Khari-Sumber.
The rail projects will improve connectivity, ensure environmental sustainability and boost the overall economic development of the region.
Road Projects
During the programme, the Prime Minister laid the foundation stone of important road projects including two packages (44.22 KM) of Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway connecting Jammu to Katra; Phase two for four-laning of Srinagar Ring Road; five packages for upgrading the 161 km long Srinagar-Baramulla-Uri stretch of NH-01; and the construction of Kulgam Bypass & Pulwama bypass on NH-444.
The two packages of the Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway, once completed will facilitate the visit of pilgrims to the holy shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi, and will also boost economic development in the region; Phase two for four-laning of Srinagar Ring Road involves upgrading the existing Sumbal-Wayul NH-1. This brownfield project of length 24.7 Km, will reduce the traffic congestion in and around Srinagar city.
It will improve connectivity to popular tourist destinations like Manasbal Lake and Kheer Bhawani Temple, and also reduce travel time to Leh, Ladakh; The project for the upgradation of 161 km long Srinagar-Baramulla-Uri stretch of NH-01, is of strategic importance. It will also boost the economic development of Baramulla & Uri; Kulgam Bypass and Pulwama bypass on NH-444 connecting Qazigund - Kulgam - Shopian - Pulwama - Badgam - Srinagar will also boost road infrastructure in the region.
CUF Petroleum depot
The Prime Minister also laid the foundation stone for a project to develop CUF (Common User Facility) Petroleum depot at Jammu. The state-of-the-art fully automated depot which will be developed at a cost of about Rs 677 crore, will have a storage capacity of about 100000 KL for storing Motor Spirit (MS), High Speed Diesel (HSD), Superior Kerosene Oil (SKO), Aviation Turbine fuel (ATF), Ethanol, Biodiesel and winter grade HSD.
Other projects
The Prime Minister also inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of several development projects worth more than Rs 3150 crores for strengthening the civic infrastructure and provisioning of public facilities across Jammu and Kashmir. The projects being inaugurated by the Prime Minister include road projects & bridges; grid stations, receiving stations transmission line Projects; Common Effluent Treatment Plants and Sewage Treatment Plants; Several Degree College buildings; Intelligent Traffic Management system in Srinagar city; Modern Narwal Fruit Mandi; Drug Testing Laboratory at Kathua; and Transit accommodation - 224 flats at Ganderbal and Kupwara.
The projects whose foundation stones are being laid include development of five new Industrial Estates across Jammu and Kashmir; the Data Centre/ Disaster Recovery Centre for Integrated Command and Control Centre of Jammu Smart City; Up-gradation of Transport Nagar at Parimpora Srinagar; Up-gradation of 62 road projects and 42 bridges and project for development of transit accommodation - 2816 flats at nine locations in districts Anantnag, Kulgam, Kupwara, Shopian & Pulwama, among others.
