Rs 31.89 Cr. World Bank funded IRUP to strengthen road connectivity in North Kashmir

Srinagar: Rs 31.89 crores are being spent on the strengthening of the inter-district road connectivity between Baramulla and Bandipora districts in North Kashmir under the World Bank funded Jhelum Tawi Flood Recovery Project (JTFRP).
The Integrated Road Upgradation Project (IRUP) being executed under the component -Reconstruction of Roads and Bridges of JTFRP involves the upgradation of 12.68 km Hamrey- Sultanpora-Nowgam, 6 km Shadipora-Khanpeth Sumbal road (District Baramulla/Bandipora) and 7.186 km Hajin-Ajas via Saidnura (District Bandipora).
The work on the road upgradation project is being executed by J&K Economic Reconstruction Agency and as part of the routine monitoring of the works, Er, Shakti Sagar, Director, Kashmir, JKERA Monday inspected work on the road upgradation project.
Er. Syed Zahoor Hussain , Project Manager, Transport, J&KERA, Kashmir while giving details of the project informed that work on the integrated road upgradation project includes upgradation of road from single lane to the intermediate lane configuration in (Shadipora-Khanpeth-Sumbal ) and (Hajin –Ajas) and strengthening of existing Hamray–Sultanpora–Nowgam road with the laying of GSB (granular sub-base), WBM (wet bituminous macadam) , BM (bituminous macadam) and construction of drainage structures and protection works wherever required.
Project Manager, Transport further informed that J&KERA has already completed black topping on the 7.186 km Hajin-Ajas and 6 km Shadipora-Khanpeth roads under the project and work on the protection works is underway.
He added that work on the Hamrey-Sultanpora-Nowgam road section had been impacted due to the issue over supply of the construction materials which has now been sorted out and works on the strengthening of the road surface and protection work is underway in full swing and blacktopping of the road will be taken up during the forthcoming working season.
Director, ERA asked Project Manager, Transport, JKERA to further expedite the pace of work on the project and ensure full compliance to all the quality control parameters. He also directed Project Manager to immediately start the construction of one of the dilapidated culverts on Hajin-Ajas road after seeking no objection certificate from the Irrigation and Flood control department.
The integrated road upgradation project will benefit around 1.5 lac souls living in the more than 30 villages along both the sides of the road and will provide them with all-weather road connectivity with improved riding surface and improved access to market for their agricultural produce and better access to health, education etc.
The villages to be benefitted include Koshum Bagh, Rakhi Hajin, Sadurkote, Sadunara, Gund Prang, Ajas, Hamray, Trambgund, Rakhi Hygam, Wussan, Gundi Jehangir, Sadatpora, Sumbal, Tangapora, Bulagam, Shadipora, Rakhi Shilvat, Najin, Tirgam, Gund Khalil, Parihaspora, Turgam, Khanpeth etc.