Bandipora pushes for National Highway Status to Srinagar-Gurez Road

Suhail Rather

Bandipora, Dec 28: The demand for providing national highway status to Srinagar-Gurez Road has gained momentum in Bandipora district as the civil society has sought intervention of Lieutenant Governor in pleading the case of Bandipora before the Central Government.

            During the Public Darbar in Bandipora chaired by Secretary Hospitality and Protocol Department Talat Parvez on Thursday, the majority of delegations pitched for expansion of Srinagar-Bandipora-Gurez road be upgrading its status to National Highway.

An official spokesperson said responded to public demands, with issues like upgrading Srinagar-Bandipora-Gurez to a National Highway and mobile connectivity at Chorwan and Kilshay villages in Tulail being raised by the attendees besides other demands.

The delegations apprised the visiting officers that the Bandipora has been suffering due to poor road connectivity in past. They said for the first time in past four years, the Bandipora district have witnessed improved road connectivity for the first time since independence. They expressed gratitude to the Lieutenant Governor administration and district administration for keen interest in improving the road connectivity.

They said the Bandipora has suffered due to poor connectivity in past. They appealed Secretary Talat Parvez to communicate their plea to the Lieutenant Governor and seek his intervention in pleading their case to central government so that their demand of giving national highway status Srinagar-Bandipora-Gurez road.

Locals said Minister for Road Transport & Highways Nitin Gadkari has always been generous in providing funds for upgradation of roads. “If our case is pleaded by LG Manoj Sinha, we are sure our demand wil be fulfilled,” delegations told Talat Parvez.

Youth delegation led by Mehran Sofi and Yasir Peerzada besides demanding upgradation of Srinagar-Bandipora-Gurez as National Highway, also raised the demand of establishment of a Women's College besides a Medical College in the district stating that it has been a long pending demand of the people of Bandipora.

Chairman District Development Council Bandipora, Abdul Gani Bhat; Deputy Commissioner Bandipora Dr Owais Ahmad, DDC members, ADDC Bandipora Mohammad Ashraf Hakak, ADC Bandipora Umar Shafi, ACR Bandipora and other senior officers of all line departments besides representatives of various delegations were present on the occasion.

Earlier Deputy Commissioner Dr Owais briefed the chair regarding the overall developmental scenario of the district. The chair was informed that the district stands firm on the path of overall development.

While presenting status of Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra (VBSY) in the district, the DC informed the chair that during the ongoing VBSY all 151 panchayats besides all 43 Urban Local Bodies have already been covered by the Information Education and Communication (IEC) Van comprising cent percent coverage of the district.

The DC informed that over 1 lakh beneficiaries have already been covered and the yatra still continues across different areas of the district.

The Secretary said that VBSY, launched by Prime Minister, is a proactive initiative to bridge the developmental gaps and ensure that every corner of the nation flourishes through various centrally sponsored welfare schemes.

The Public Darbar witnessed overwhelming response from all sections of the society where people apprised the secretary of issues being faced by them, seeking intervention in redressing the same. On the occasion, various delegations were also present.

The DDC delegation on the occasion submitted a memorandum of demands including power supply, healthcare, education. Other demands put forth by the delegation included mobile connectivity at Chorwan and Krishay villages of Gurez/Tulail, ATM at Aragam Chithibanday besides bringing some areas of Bandipora, Sumbal and Hajin on tourism map.

The BDC members also put forth the issues concerning their respective areas like road connectivity, devising a robust mechanism for flood prone and affected areas near water bodies, land for landless families, filling of vacant posts, demands of blood bank in CHC Sumbal, early completion of College building in Hajin.

While responding to the demands of bringing some areas of the division on tourism map, the secretary assured early redressal in the matter.

Delegation of Sarpanches also presented their issues and demands during the public Darbar.

Talat Parvez, while interacting with line departments, called for adopting a time bound redressal/execution mechanism in resolving the issues of public importance by making optimum utilisation of resources.

The Secretary, while addressing the gathering, said that their demands shall be brought into the notice of concerned departments and assured them of proper action and timely redressal of their grievances.

The Secretary said public darbar is a platform to obtain first hand appraisal from the gross root level besides reducing the communication gap between the public and the administration.

The secretary praised the efforts of all the stakeholders for overall development in the district and called upon them to continue to pursue Hon’ble LG’s cherished goal of good governance in the UT.

While emphasising the crucial role played by the PRIs, the secretary said that they serve as ambassadors for development of other initiatives of the developmental initiative of the government.

The Secretary reiterated the commitment of the UT government for ensuring holistic development in the villages, underscoring the administration's focus on infrastructure, healthcare, education, and other key sectors.

Earlier, the Secretary inspected various stalls installed by different departments. He also handed over authority and sanction letters to various beneficiaries pertaining to welfare and income generation schemes.

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