Razdan, Machil pass tunnels to be taken up under OTCA Budget: Gadkari to Er Rashid

Srinagar, Feb 20: Awami Itihaad Party (AIP) Chief Spokesperson Inam Un Nabi has welcomed the written response of Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari to MP Baramulla Er Rashid regarding long-pending road and tunnel projects in North Kashmir, terming it a positive and encouraging development.

In a statement issued to the media, Inam Un Nabi said the letter acknowledges the issues raised by the MP Baramulla Er Rashid concerning the Lolab (Kupwara)–Dardpora–Bandipora Road, Lolab–Takipora–Sopore Road, Machil Tunnel (Kupwara) and Gurez Tunnel (Bandipora), as per a press release.

Quoting the contents of the letter, Inam said the Union Minister has informed MP Er Eashid that while the Ministry is primarily responsible for National Highways and the proposed roads are not currently declared as National Highways, the matter has been examined in detail. The Minister has further conveyed, as informed by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), that the proposed tunnels at Razdan Pass and Machil Pass have been considered to be taken up under the Other Than Capital Acquisition (OTCA) budget.

The AIP Chief spokesperson Inam Un Nabi described this as a significant assurance, stating that tunnels at Machil Pass and Razdan Pass (Gurez) are vital for ensuring all-weather connectivity to remote and border areas of Kupwara and Bandipora districts, which remain cut off for months during winter.

Inam also referred to the Minister’s assurance that the policy for declaration of new National Highways is currently under consultation within the government and that proposals for declaring new National Highways will be processed once new guidelines and criteria are finalised. He said this gives hope that roads like Lolabh–Dardpora–Bandipora and Lolabh–Takipora–Sopore may be considered for National Highway status in the future.