Jammu-Akhnoor NH project worth Rs 1,345-cr back on track
The much-delayed Jammu-Akhnoor four-laning road project, which was cleared in 2015, is finally back on track. The project involves widening a stretch of National Highway 144-A, which connects the border districts of Rajouri and Poonch with Jammu and is vital for defence purposes. All necessary clearances are in place, and construction work has begun under Phase 1 of the project. The General Manager of the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (NHIDCL), Col Surajpal Singh Sagwan, stated that the agency is executing the project in four phases at a cost of Rs 1,345 crores, with the entire project set to be completed by 2025. The project was assigned in 2018 but got delayed due to several factors, including the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, which led to a lack of materials and land acquisition under new norms.