Massive road communication programme proposed: Minister

The Centre has initiated a massive 7,000-km road communication programme to provide better connectivity to people.

Union minister of State for Surface Transport RPN Singh said about 7,000-km road would be constructed in the first year of the UPA government.

The minister, in his interaction with editors during the All India Editors Conference on Social and Infrastructure issues here yesterday, said tenders have been issued for engagement of consultants for preparing feasibility reports for construction of a 12-km tunnel at Zojila to connect the Ladakh region with the valley.

He said under prime minister's Reconstruction Plan in Jammu and Kashmir, work is on progress on seven road projects with a length of 976.90 km at an estimated cost of Rs2669.13 crore.

The minister said out of the total amount, Rs1074.69 crore has been spent so far on these projects and they will be completed within the stipulated time.

Under the North-South corridor, a project with a road length of 112.75 km, four major bridges and one flyover in Jammu and Kashmir would be completed by the end of March next year, he said.