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| Ask Pak for overflight of international planes: Omar | | Foundation stone of 8.45 kilometer tunnel laid | |  Early Times Report
QAZIGUND, Jul 25: Welcoming the dialogue process between India and Pakistan, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah today asked the Centre to take up the issue of overflight permission for Srinagar-Dubai International flights with the visiting Foreign Minister, Hinna Rabbani Khar.
"The message from the people of the state to the union government is loud and clear: to take up the issue of allowing international flights from Srinagar to Dubai over Pakistan with the Pakistan Foreign Minister during her visit to New Delhi," Omar said after laying the foundation of 8.45Km-long tunnel between Qazigund and Banihal at village Wazur, 80km from here, on Srinagar-Jammu national highway.
"The union ministers should carry this message to the union government," he said adding "this is an important matter for our people as it directly relates to the promotion of tourism in the state". "The Srinagar-Dubai flights had to go all the way down towards Gujarat and then to Dubai which had made operations economically unviable," Omar said. Omar had last week said the blame for stopping the Srinagar-Dubai international flight lies with Pakistan as Islamabad had refused overflight permission.
"So much as we would like to blame Air India for stopping the international flights from Srinagar to Dubai, it actually lies with the country which claims to be the best wisher of Kashmiri people," Omar had said. Omar said he was informed about Pakistan' refusal of overflight permission by Chairman-cum-Managing Director of Air India Arvind Jhadhav during a meeting here last week.
The Srinagar-Dubai flight from Srinagar international Airport was started in February 14, 2009 but grounded a year later. Omar highlighted need for providing ample opportunities of work to youth of Jammu and Kashmir in the Central projects under implementation in the State.
He said the youth of the State are second to none in the talent, qualification and capability. “They only require opportunities to prove their mettle”, he stressed. Omar Abdullah said that the immediate benefit of 4-lane National Highway project from Lakhanpur to Srinagar should be generation of economic activities for the locals.
“This can be achieved by engaging them in the project works by providing sub-contracts and utilizing their services for other components”, he said emphasizing on proper utilization of available local man-power in Centrally Sponsored Schemes. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Dr. C.P Joshi, Health and Family Welfare Minister, Ghulam Nabi Azad and New and Renewable Energy Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah today laid foundation of 8.45 km long tunnel between Qazigund and Banihal at village Wazur in Qazigund.
Total length of National Highway from Lakhanpur to Srinagar is 400 kms. Of this, work is nearing completion for 114 km stretch from Lakhanpur to Jammu and 17 kms Srinagar bypass at a cost of Rs 952 crores. The 4-laining from Srinagar to Jammu is being taken in hand in six packages involving the cost of over Rs 9700 crores. The project is being execution by National Highway Authority of India.
Tunnel project at Qazigund envisages construction of 8.45 kms long tunnel (twin tubes of 2-lane each) and short tunnel of 690 meters length (twin tubes of 2-lane each). The project is expected to be completed by June 2016. The expenditure is estimated at over Rs 1987 crores. It will reduce the travelling time by about one hour and bypass the avalanches prone area.
Chief Minister emphasising the importance of good road communication in Jammu and Kashmir for economic transformation and faster development said that the efficacy and necessity of tunnels at various places in the State can be visualized by the fact that many areas of the State remain totally cut-off for six months of winter season.
“The helicopter service for immediate healthcare attention in these areas is even sub-servant to the weather condition. If weather is not favourable we cannot even repatriate most critical patients from these areas nor arrange urgent healthcare facility and medicines to them”, he said underlining need for boring of tunnels to link up these areas.
“This is an important matter for our people as it directly relates to the promotion of tourism in the State”, he emphasised. Speaking on the occasion, the Union Minister C. P. Joshi said that the UPA Government under the leadership of Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh is committed to the faster development of Jammu and Kashmir. He said that the 4-lane National Highway project of which tunnels at Qazigund and Chenani form an important part would help in economic growth of the state in a big way.
Union Minister assured the state government that centre would extend its full support to it for creating a dependable road-network in the State. “You have sacrificed for the cause of the country”, he said adding that it was the responsibility of the Union Government to extent every possible help to the State for its all round development.
“They want to create wedge between NC and Congress for personal gains”, he said adding that they have exposed themselves time and again by their deeds and actions as such there is no one to buy their divisive political tactics. Highlighting the importance of 4-lane National Highway for the State, Dr Farooq Abdullah also emphasised on construction of tunnels at various places including one at Kapran.
Addressing the gathering on the occasion, the Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Ghulam Nabi Azad listed the schemes launched by the Union Government for overall development and welfare of Jammu and Kashmir. Ghulam Nabi Azad said that works involving Rs 30000 crores are under execution in the State under National Highway and Railway Projects.
“These will necessarily give considerable fillip to the State’s economy and development”, he said underlining the importance of 4-lane National Highway project from Lakhanpur to Srinagar in the economy and growth of the state. Union Health Minister said that the Health Ministry has launched an ambitious programme of enhancing primary health service facilities in the country to cover all areas under this programme. He said an amount of Rs 17,000 crores have been earmarked under this programme and Jammu and Kashmir will receive due share and benefits of it.
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