J&K: Over Rs 20,000 Crore Worth Infra Projects Including 8.5 Km Long Banihal-Qazigund Tunnel To Be Launched By PM Modi Tomorrow

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday (24 April) to participate in the celebrations of National Panchayati Raj Day.

He will also inaugurate and lay foundation stone of multiple developmental projects worth over Rs 20,000 crore in J&K.

The projects being inaugurated and whose foundation stone is being laid during PM Modi's visit will go a long way in facilitating provision of basic amenities, ensuring ease of mobility and development of infrastructure in the region, the PM's Office said in a release on Saturday (23 April).

The Prime Minister will inaugurate the Banihal-Qazigund Road Tunnel, built at a cost of over Rs 3,100 crore. The 8.45 km long tunnel would reduce the road distance between Banihal and Qazigund by 16 km, and reduce journey time by around one and a half hour. It is a twin tube tunnel – one for each direction of travel – with the twin tubes being interconnected by a cross passage every 500m, for maintenance and emergency evacuation.

The tunnel would help establish an all weather connection between Jammu and Kashmir, and bring the two regions closer, the release said.

Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone of three road packages of Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway, being built at a cost of over Rs. 7500 crore. They are for the construction of 4/6 lane access controlled Delhi-Katra-Amritsar Expressway from: Balsua on NH-44 to Gurha Baildaran, Hiranagar; Gurha Baildaran, Hiranagar to Jakh, Vijaypur; and Jakh, Vijaypur to Kunjwani, Jammu with spur connectivity to Jammu Airport.

Prime Minister will also lay the foundation stone of Ratle and Kwar Hydroelectric projects. The 850 MW Ratle Hydroelectric Project will be constructed on Chenab river in Kishtwar District at a cost of around Rs 5,300 crore. T

he 540 MW Kwar Hydroelectric Project will also be built on Chenab river in Kishtwar District at a cost of over Rs 4,500 crore. Both the projects will help meet the power requirements of the region.

In a bid to further expand the network of Jan Aushadhi Kendras in J&K and to make good quality generic medicines at affordable prices available, 100 Kendras have been made functional and will be dedicated to the nation by the Prime Minister. These Kendras are located in the remote corners of the UT.

PM Modi will also inaugurate a 500 KW solar power plant at Palli, which will make it the country’s first panchayat to become carbon neutral.

He will also hand over SVAMITVA cards to beneficiaries under the scheme.

PM Modi will also transfer award money to Panchayats which are winners of awards given across different categories on National panchayati Raj Day for their achievements.