Basohli (Jammu and Kashmir), May 23 (ANI): Jammu and Kashmir will continue to receive the 'utmost and undivided priority' for the development of infrastructure, Union Defence Minister A.K. Antony said on Monday.
Antony said this while addressing a gathering after Congress President Sonia Gandhi laid the foundation stone of Jammu and Kashmir's first cable-stayed bridge at Basholi on the river Ravi.
"The development of infrastructure will ensure accelerated economic progress not only in the state of Jammu and Kashmir, but also our nation," Antony said.
Antony disclosed that feasibility studies are being carried out for two more tunnels across Zozila and Z-Morh in Jammu and Kashmir.
These tunnels will be very crucial for providing all-weather connectivity to Kargil-Leh region from Srinagar.
Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Ghulam Nabi Azad, Minister for New and Renewable Energy Dr Farooq Abdullah, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, and Minister of State for Defence M.M. Pallam Raju also attended the ceremony.
Basholi Bridge is considered a technological marvel, and would be constructed on the lines of the Hoogly bridge in Kolkata, the Naini Bridge in Allahabad and the Rajiv Gandhi Sea Link in Mumbai.
The bridge will have a 88 metre high tower, with cables supporting the span regions. There will be 1.5 metre wide footpaths on both sides.
The bridge would also promote tourism in Kathua and Doda districts along Ranjit Sagar Dam.
The 592-metre bridge is to be built by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) of the Ministry of Defence at a cost of Rs 145 Crores.
It will also open up an alternative route to National Highway 1A and to the Kashmir Valley via Basholi, Bani, Bhaderwah, Kishtwar, Chhatroo and Anantnag. It would boost development of these areas. .
The bridge is scheduled to be completed by September 2014. (ANI)
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