Govt. clears Rs.917 cr for Jammu-Poonch highway

Jammu-Akhnoor- Poonch highway, which is a very vital stretch as it connects the mountainous border districts of Poonch and Rajouri with Jammu city and in view of this, the Union government has recently cleared Rs.917 crore for widening and strengthening of the road stretch. It has recently been upgraded into National Highway status as it apart from strengthening defence preparedness on borders, will give a fillip to growth of economic activities in the region with rich unexploited potential for tourism. The construction work on the 30-km stretch of Jammu-Poonch road would cost Rs.30.5 crore per km. The topography of this road corridor from Jammu to Akhnoor is different from its stretch from Akhnoor to Poonch town. The outer limits of local area of Jammu city under the recently approved Master Plan of Jammu, covering 650 sqkm, is very close to the River Chenab towards Akhnoor side. Among others, a grade separators from Bakshi Nagar T-junction up to Muthi catering to heavy traffic load and this proposal has already been suggested by the consultants.