JK News Today
Banihal, August 23: Jammu and Kashmir National Conference leader and MLA Banihal-Gool, Sajjad Shaheen, today laid the foundation stone of the 4-km Nachlana-Talab road, being constructed at an estimated cost of ₹7.33 crore, describing it as another major step towards improving connectivity and accelerating development in the remote and hilly areas of the constituency.
Speaking on the occasion, Shaheen said Banihal-Gool is witnessing a visible change in its developmental landscape after decades of neglect, with major projects being taken up across roads, power, healthcare, education, water supply and other sectors.
He said the constituency is finally receiving several facilities and infrastructure projects that had remained pending for decades due to neglect and inadequate attention to its genuine developmental needs.
Shaheen said around five dozen road projects have been approved in Banihal-Gool under PMGSY, NABARD, UT Sector and other schemes. Work on several projects has already commenced, while the remaining projects are at various stages of tendering and are expected to be taken up shortly.
Highlighting major achievements during the last one-and-a-half years, Shaheen said the Banihal Receiving Station has been augmented from 6.3 MVA to 10.6 MVA, while the Sangaldan Receiving Station has been augmented from 3.15 MVA to 6.3 MVA. Augmentation of the Khari Receiving Station from 3.15 MVA to 6.3 MVA is in progress, while an additional 50 MVA transformer at Grid Station Tethar is also being installed.
He said substantial attention has also been given to healthcare and education, including strengthening of SDH Banihal and SDH Gool, efforts towards advanced diagnostic facilities, the Degree College at Khari, Kendriya Vidyalaya initiatives and improvement of school infrastructure, including digital smart boards.
Shaheen said development works relating to bridges, Panchayat infrastructure, water supply, protection works and other public utilities are also being taken up across the constituency. Tourism promotion has simultaneously been given attention through efforts to develop the Banihal-Gool tourism circuit, particularly Mahoo, Mangit and Neel, besides promoting fisheries and other livelihood opportunities.
He said special emphasis is being laid on far-flung areas such as Khari, Mahoo, Mangit, Neel, Pogal and Sangaldan to ensure that development reaches habitations that remained neglected for decades.
Shaheen reiterated his appreciation for the Omar Abdullah-led government for pursuing an agenda of balanced and inclusive development and said the government is committed to ensuring equitable development across Jammu and Kashmir, with particular focus on remote, hilly and backward areas.
“The people of Banihal-Gool have waited for decades for their rightful share in development. Today, that gap is being addressed through concrete projects on the ground. Our endeavour is to ensure that every village, including the most remote habitation, becomes part of the development process,” Shaheen said.
He also expressed his gratitude to Deputy Chief Minister Shri Surinder Choudhary, Incharge Roads and Buildings Department, for giving due consideration to the developmental demands of Banihal-Gool and extending support for sanctioning and taking forward various road and infrastructure projects.
Shaheen said the projects completed, sanctioned and under execution during the past one-and-a-half years represent only the beginning, adding that efforts will continue to bring more major development projects to Banihal-Gool and address its long-pending infrastructure needs.
Executive Engineer PMGSY Mr Sansar Singh, AEE PMGSY, besides party leaders Fayaz Ahmed Naik, Mohd Ashraf Naik, Nisar Ahmed Sohil, Ilyas Ahmed Wani, Mohd Azam Sohil, Muneer Ahmed Bhat, Farooq Ahmed Goth, Shabir Ahmed Naik, Mukhtiar Ahmed Sheikh, Manzoor Ahmed Sheikh, Abdul Rashid Malik, Hashmatullah Sohil, Ajaz Ahmed Bhat, Farooq Sehamat, Wasim Ahmed Wani and others were also present on the occasion.
