Gadkari promises an 8-hour journey between Delhi and Srinagar in 2023

By Ahmed Ali FayyaNew Delhi, Nov 26: Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways has promised to cut travel time between New Delhi and Srinagar by 8 hours.

In December 2023, the drive between Jammu and Srinagar would take an amazing four hours.

After laying the foundation stone for 25 surface communication project, which has an aggregate length of 259km and a cost of Rs 11,721 crore, Gadkari addressed a public meeting in Doda on Wednesday.He also announced five new highways in Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.

The Union Minister stated that Jammu, Srinagar and other cities would receive three road corridors once the ongoing road projects are completed.These corridors are currently in various stages of execution.

He stated that the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway (NH-44) would be completed in two years.The travel time will be reduced from four hours to just four.

This would translate into a driving time of eight hours between Delhi and Srinagar.Importantly, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Jammu and Kashmirs first meeting in over two years, had stressed the importance of reducing Kashmir’s distance from Delhi-Dil Ki duri aur Dilli.

Gadkaris ambitious plan, along with green-lighting the railway linkage between Srinagar & Delhi in the next two year would be a real game changer in the process for Kashmirs physical integration.The Union Minister added that the second road corridor between Jammu and Srinagar through Doda-Kishtwar (NH-244) and the third one through Akhnoor-Rajouri-Shopian (Mughal Road) would serve as alternate arteries and connect two hilly wings to the two capital cities.

Gadkari spoke out about the 650-km Delhi–Katra express highway.He said that the work had been distributed as different packages and that 16 packages were being worked on in Haryana and Punjab.

"After completion of the Delhi–Katra express highway, travel time between major cities including Delhi-Amritsar will be four hours, Delhi–Katra six hours, and Delhi–Srinagar eight hour.He said, "This is my promise, and it will be fulfilled.

" The Union Minister stated that work was also in various stages of completion on the 1350 km long Delhi-Mumbai expressway.This will reduce travel time between Indias financial and political capitals from 24 to 12 hours.

It is expected to be completed in less than 90,000 crore.He stated that Delhi-Dehradun and Delhi-Dehradun, Delhi–Haridwar, Delhi–Dehradun, Delhi–Dehradun and Delhi–Jaipur Road trips would all be completed in two hours.

Gadkari stated that work was progressing quickly on the four-lane highway linking Jammu to Srinagar.While 85 per cent of work had been completed on the 95-km long Jammu-Udhampur-Nashri section (which includes a 10-km long tunnel), the 60-km section between Nashri and Banihal would be completed by December 2023.

These projects are crucial for the rapid movement of defense forces and the socio-economic progress in the region.They will also provide all-weather connectivity between Jammu & Kashmir.

These projects will connect all major roads to various district headquarters, and will facilitate the creation of employment and self-employment.The Minister made a significant announcement that road communication projects worth Rs 10,00,000 crore, which is equal to the total cost of the 1350-km-long 8-lane Delhi-Mumbai Expressway, would be completed in Jammu & Kashmir within the next two-years.

Already, tunnels worth Rs 50,000 crore are being built in the UT.Gadkari made yet another amazing announcement about a road that includes a tunnel under Sadhna Top between Kupwara (LoC), and a road that includes a tunnel from Bafliaz, Rajouri, to Peer Ki Gali, near Shopian in Kashmir.These two arteries will provide connectivity throughout the two hilly terrains 24x7x365 once they are completed "Four things water power, transport, and communication are essential for the success tourism and industrialisation," said the Minister, adding that the Centre was making every effort to bring development to Jammu-and-Kashmir.

He spoke out about the development of roads within J&K.He said that J&K was the only country in which tunnels of more than Rs 50,000 crore are currently being built.

These include Asias longest road tunnel, located near Zojila on the Srinagar-Kargil–Leh highway.Gadkari stated that the infrastructure would be up to western European standards during Modis government.

He spoke about roads currently in execution and those in the pipeline.(The content is being transmitted under an agreement with indianarrative.com --indianarrative #Gadkari #promises #journey #Delhi #Srinagar #Mumbai.