LADAKH: In a significant move to enhance connectivity and infrastructure in Ladakh, Union Minister of Road, Transport, and Highways Nitin Gadkari announced on Friday that the government has sanctioned Rs 1,170.16 crore for 29 road projects in the Union Territory (UT).
The allocation, aimed at bolstering connectivity, is expected to not only benefit the local population of Ladakh but also aid defence forces engaged in a prolonged standoff with the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) of China along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) for over three and a half years.
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Gadkari, in a social media post, highlighted that the sanctioned amount will cover 29 road projects, including State Highways and other major roads in Ladakh. Additionally, Rs 181.71 crore has been earmarked for the construction of eight bridges under the Central Road and Infrastructure Fund (CRIF) scheme for the fiscal year 2023-24.
As the largest UT in terms of area and the second least populous in the country, Ladakh is set to witness improved connectivity to its remote villages through these initiatives. The move is anticipated to stimulate economic activities, particularly in agriculture and tourism, contributing to the overall infrastructural development of the region.
The CRIF scheme, originally introduced in Jammu and Kashmir in 2000-01, aims to develop and maintain National Highways, State roads, rural roads, and railways under and over bridges.
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The recent allocation aligns with the government’s commitment to the development and up-gradation of key infrastructure.
Earlier in September, Gadkari had announced the upgrade and widening of the 230km-long Kargil-Zanskar road in Ladakh, forming part of National Highway 301.
Highlighting the broader national infrastructure development efforts, Gadkari noted that under the ‘Bharatmala Pariyojana,’ a total of Rs 5.35 trillion has been approved for the development of 34,800 km of National Highway corridors.
