Roads buttress development and economy while bridges engulf the economic gaps, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today said and announced that state government was implementing a gigantic roads and bridges development programme in the state.
The chief minister also said a "gigantic expansion programme" in health and education sector within next six months.
"Within next six to eight months, you will see a huge programme on ground regarding expansion of health and educational institutions," Omar told a public gathering in Trungal, a remote area in Asar block of Doda district.
The chief minister was addressing a public meeting after inaugurating 325-metre span suspension bridge over the Chenab river at Trungal in Doda. The bridge was built at a cost of Rs 15 crore.
Omar said that road communication, especially to link far-flung and remote areas with main highways, is receiving priority attention.
"In fact, my government has flagged this aspect as one of the most important concerns in the state's development policy. It is as a result of this policy that state has witnessed remarkable improvement and upgradation in the road communication sector during the last five years," he said.
Omar said the programme is continuing and will see further fillip during this year. "The economic uplift of remote areas and employment generation for youth largely depends on the status of connectivity and road communication," he said.
"Better roads buttress development and economy and bridges engulf the economic gaps," Omar said.
Recognising this aspect, the state government is vigorously implementing a gigantic roads and bridges development programme in the state, the chief minister said.
Referring to the tourism potential of erstwhile Doda district, the chief minister said that in order to bring Trungal on tourist map of the state, measures will be taken to encourage water sports in the lake here and youth would be trained to start programmes for water skiing, kayaking, para-gliding and adventure tourism.
The chief minister also stressed on the need of utilising the water body in the area as a means of transport as is prevalent in many similar lakes elsewhere.
He said the water body in Trungal could be utilised as a good means of transport as is being done in Jhelum, Dal and Nageen Lakes.
