National Highway Between Jammu And Poonch Progresses At 'War-Footing Level' With BRO's Support, To Cut Travel Time By 1.5 Hours

The construction of National Highway 144A, which will connect Jammu to Poonch via Akhnoor, Nowshera, and Rajouri, is progressing at an accelerated pace, with engineers working round the clock to complete the project, ANI reported.

The work is advancing at a "war-foot level", and 90 percent cutting work is complete and the remaining will be completed in the next seven to 10 days.

The ambitious project aims to enhance travel efficiency and reduce the journey time between Jammu and Poonch by one and a half hours, significantly improving connectivity for commuters.

One of the engineers working at the site commented, "There are 12 bridges, and 70 percent of the work is done. We are trying to complete the work this year itself. The journey from Jammu to Poonch will be reduced by 1.5 hours. I am a resident of Akhnoor. A lot of other locals are working with us. The BRO is also supporting us."

The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) is playing a key role in supporting the construction efforts, ensuring that work progresses swiftly.

The completion of NH-144A is expected to be a game-changer for the region, providing smoother and faster transport links for both civilians and the military.

Simultaneously, the construction of a motorable bridge in Rajouri, linking Nowshera to Seri Block, has also commenced. The bridge, once completed, will connect 10 villages, significantly easing daily travel and emergency transport.

One of the villagers said, "After the construction of the bridge, our travel time will be reduced by an hour. All the villagers are very happy."

In October 2024, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated 12 bridge projects and several roads worth Rs 731.22 crore, marking a significant investment in infrastructure to facilitate better transportation and regional growth.