Jammu, July 12 (ANI): Work on the 147-km-long Bhaderwah-Chamba road has resumed after a gap of more than two decades. A 22-kilometer-long stretch of the repaired road was opened to traffic recently.
The road connects the town of Bhaderwah in Doda District with Chamba in neighbouring Himachal Pradesh
The road project has been sanctioned under the Inter-State Connectivity Programme at a cost of Rs.730.33 million.
The upgrading and augmentation of the Bhaderwah-Chamba project will also connect India with the Kashmir Valley more effectively.
Local residents expressed happiness over the new initiative.
"Jammu and Kashmir government has resumed work of widening of this road, and reopening this road is a major achievement for us. Our culture and climate resembles that of Himachal Pradesh and we feel connected to the state," said Imtiaz-ur Rehman, one of the residents.
Once the road is complete, tourists could be convinced to visit popular destinations in Bhaderwah and adjoining areas.
"The work on this project is going on at full speed and you will see that all the machinery is installed there. It has the potential to complete the width of four kilometers in one month. We have acquired the land for the width of 60 feet, out of which 33 feet width will be the actual road, the mechanized road, and soon the state will connect with rest of the states of India," said Farooq Khan, Deputy Commissioner of Doda.
The completion of the project will help in boosting tourism, trade, and people-to-people contact, and will strengthen the local economy. It will also increase the potential of pilgrim tourism of Bhaderwah.
The Bhaderwah-Chamba road was abandoned in 1986 due to the onset of militancy. (ANI)
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