LEH/JAMMU/SRINAGAR Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sunday launched several development projects in Jammu and Kashmir during his day-long visit to the State. He laid foundation of prestigious AIIMS in Jammu and Srinagar.
Beginning his J&K visit from Ladakh this morning, Prime Minister laid foundation of New Terminal Building of Kushak Bakula Rinpoche Airport at Leh.
The New Terminal Building of KBR Airport Leh is coming up over 11.8 acres of land at a project cost of Rs 480 crore. It shall have 18 check-in counters, two arrival baggage carrousels, three passenger boarding bridges with parking facility for 200 cars. The new airport terminal will be upgraded to handle A320 and B737 aircrafts.
Prime Minister also dedicated to the nation 220 KV Single Circuit, Srinagar-Alusteng-Drass-Kargil-Khaltsi-Leh Transmission System to connect Ladakh with the National Grid for assured power supply. The foundation of this project was laid by the Prime Minister in August 2014. The transmission system has been completed by the Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd at a cost of Rs 2361.60 crore.
Prime Minister also inaugurated 9MW Dah Hydroelectric Project in Ladakh. The project has been completed at a cost of Rs 95 crores and it will provide electricity to around half a dozen villages in the area.
Prime Minister also launched the University of Ladakh established under University of Ladakh Act 2018. It will be a Cluster University comprising Degree Colleges of Nubra, Leh, Zanskar, Kargil, Drass and Khaltsi. The University shall have administrative offices both at Leh and Kargil.
The Prime Minister also declared open several new tourist and trekking routes in Ladakh region to facilitate more tourist footfall in the area.
In addition, Protected Area Permits validity has been increased to 15 days in Ladakh region. Now tourists will be able to enjoy their journey in Ladakh for a longer time.
Prime Minister also addressed a gathering at the auditorium of the Central Institute of Buddhist Studies (CIBS) Leh.
Governor Satya Pal Malik, Minister of State in PMO, Dr Jitendra Singh, Chairman Legislative Council Haji Anayat Ali, Chairman/CEC, LAHDC, Leh Jamyang Tsering Namgyal, Chairman/CEC, LAHDC Kargil Feroz Ahmad Khan, Legislator Chering Dorjay, Chief Secretary BVR Subrahmanyam, Director General of Police, Dilbag Singh, DC Leh Avny Lavasa and other senior civil, police and Army officers were present on the occasion.
Earlier on his arrival at Leh, Prime Minister was received by Governor Satya Pal Malik, Chief Secretary BVR Subrahmanyam and senior officers from civil, police administration and the Army.
At Jammu, Prime Minister laid foundation of AIIMS Jammu at Vijaypur, Samba.
AIIMS Jammu is coming up at a cost of Rs 1661 crore under PMDP. Around 2000 kanals of land have been transferred to the Health and Medical Education Department at Vijaypur for the AIIMS Jammu project.
AIIMS Jammu shall have 750 bedded state of the art super-specialty hospital with a Medical College and Nursing College.
Prime Minister also laid foundation of a Bridge over River Chenab at Sajwal (Pargwal-Indri Pattian), Jourian in Jammu. The 1640 m (39 spans) double-lane bridge would provide alternate connectivity between Sajwal and Indri Pattian areas reducing the travel distance from existing 50 KMs to 3 KMs. The bridge will be completed by March 2021.
Prime Minister laid foundation of Pollution Abatement Project on Rivers Devika and Tawi. The project is being implemented under National River Conservation Plan (NRCP) at an estimated cost of Rs 186.74 crore involving development and beautification of 25.29 sq kms of rivers Devika and Tawi in Udhampur district.
Prime Minister laid foundation of the Northern Regional Centre of Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC) Campus Jammu coming up over 15.25 acres of land at Kerian in Jammu at an estimated cost of Rs 16.40 crore. He also inaugurated University Institute of Engineering & Technology Janglote, Kathua. He also launched entrepreneurship and career development hub at Jammu University.
Prime Minister also laid foundation of 624 MW Kiru Hydroelectric Project to be constructed over River Chenab in district Kishtwar by Chenab Valley Power Projects Private Ltd (CVPPPL). The project cost is Rs 4708.60 crore and it is to be completed in 54 months. J&K will get free power from the project as per the norms besides 1% additional free power will be provided towards Local Area Development Fund.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was also exchanged, on the occasion, between J&K Power Development Department (JKPDD) and NHPC Ltd for execution of 850 MW Ratle Hydroelectric Project on river Chenab in Drabshalla area of district Kishtwar.
Governor Satya Pal Malik, Minister of State in PMO, Dr Jitendra Singh, MPs Jugal Kishore Sharma and Shamsher Singh Manhas, Advisor to Governor K K Sharma, Chief Secretary BVR Subrahmanyam, Union Secretaries, Administrative Secretaries, senior civil and police officers were present on the occasion.
Prime Minister also addressed a public gathering on the sidelines of the function.
Earlier on his arrival at Jammu Airport, Prime Minister was received by Governor Satya Pal Malik, MoS in PMO, Dr Jitendra Singh, Chief Secretary BVR Subrahmanyam, IGP Jammu, M K Sinha, DC Jammu Ramesh Kumar and other senior civil and police officers.
On the last leg of his visit, Prime Minister laid foundation of various projects in Srinagar including AIIMS Kashmir coming up at Awantipora, Pulwama at a cost of Rs 1828 crore over 207 acres of land.
AIIMS Kashmir shall have 750 bedded state of the art super-specialty hospital with a Medical College and Nursing College.
The Prime Minister dedicated to the nation 400 KV Double Circuit Jalandhar-Samba-Rajouri-Shopian-Amargarh (Sopore) Transmission Line. The project has been completed at a cost of Rs 3000 crores and would bring additional 1000 MW of electricity to the Kashmir valley.
Prime Minister laid foundation of Model Degree Colleges at Singhpora in district Baramulla, Villgam in Kupwara and Padder in district Kishtwar.
He also inaugurated facilities for launch of first Rural BPO at Bandipora in north Kashmir and Multipurpose Indoor Sports Facility at Sehpora in district Ganderbal.
The BPO at Bandipora will train 600 educated youth every year for placement in BPOs and this will provide platform for establishment of more BPOs and attracting employment-oriented investment.
Prime Minister also laid foundation of Transit Accommodation for Kashmiri Migrant State Government employees and declared electrification of 100% households in J&K under SAUBHAGYA.
The Prime Minister immediately on his arrival in Srinagar, visited the interior parts of Dal Lake in a motorboat, to take stock of the condition of the water body.
He also interacted with Sarpanchs at SKICC Srinagar.
Earlier on his arrival at Srinagar Airport, Prime Minister was received by the Mayor Srinagar Municipal Corporation, Junaid Azim Matoo, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Baseer Ahmad Khan, IGP Kashmir, S P Pani and other senior officers of the civil, police administration, army and paramilitary forces.
PM dedicates 220 kV Srinagar-Drass-Kargil-Khaltsi-LehTransmission Line to the nation
Prime Minister, Narendra Modi dedicated the 220 kV Srinagar-Drass-Kargil-Khaltsi-Leh Transmission System, in a step towards powering Ladakh and connecting countrys northern part to the National Grid. On this occasion, addressing the gathering he said that I got the opportunity of laying the foundation stone of this project and today again I have got the opportunity to dedicate this project. With this more than Rs. 2000 Crore project, the problem of electricity in LehLadakh is going to be minimized.
Built at a height of around 3000-4000 meters, this approx. 335 km long transmission line has been constructed by Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (POWERGRID), a Navratna Company of Government of India, under Ministry of Power, in snow-bound difficult hilly terrains. In this project, the four new State-of-the-Art 220/66 kV Gas Insulated Sub-stations built at Drass, Kargil, Khaltsi and Leh will help to ensure 24×7 quality power in all weather conditions.
It is a flagship project of Government of India, under PMRP scheme which was aimed to improve reliability & quality of power supply in Ladakh region of J&K by connecting with National Grid. The implementation of this project was also aimed to supply power to the people of Ladakh in harsh winters and evacuation of surplus power of Kargil & Leh Hydel stations of NHPC in summers.
This will not only help evacuate power in summers, but will also supply power to the region in winters when temperatures dip and hydro electricity generation do not match up. The project will meet the power demand of Ladakh region at economical rates. It will not only ensure quality power supply, but will also give huge boost to the tourism sector and will enhance socio-economic development of Ladakh, as quality power will be distributed to homes and business establishments of the region in all weathers.
This transmission project of approx. Rs. 2266 Crore will result in minimizing the massive use of diesel generating sets during winters, and thus will not only help in protection of beautiful environment, of pristine Ladakh, but will also save import expenditure in foreign currency incurred on crude oil, thereby benefiting the state exchequer. It will also give boost to the tourism sector, especially hospitality industry in Ladakh, as quality electricity at reasonable rates will be accessible due to non-reliance on diesel. This will also attract tourists looking for affordable stay in all weathers.
This herculean task executed by POWERGRID in unforeseen weather conditions was made possible by immaculate project monitoring skills, high team spirit andstrategic planning and use of modern technologies. The line remains snow covered for nearly six months with the minimum temperature going down to as low as -40 degrees at Drass. Therefore, specially designed tower foundations were constructed with assistance from Snow & Avalanche Study Establishment (SASE) for spotting the tower foundations, as the work force braved the challenge of working at lesser oxygen levels. It shallalso provide grid connectivity and reliable quality power supply to the strategically important Ladakh region including defence establishments in the area.
The event was attended by a graceful gathering in the CIBS Auditorium, Leh, in the gracious presence of Shri Satya Pal Malik, Honble Governor, J&K, Dr. Jitendra Singh, Honble Union Minister of State (IC) for Development of North Eastern Region, along with Shri Haji Anayat Ali, Honble Chairman, Legislative Council, J&K, Shri Jamyang Tsering Namgial, Honble Chairman/Chief Executive Councillor, LAHDC, Leh, Shri Feroz Ahmed, Honble Chairman, LAHDC, Kargil, Shri Chering Dorjay, Honble Member of Legislative Council, Leh.
Also present on this occasion were Secretary (Power) Government of India, A. K. Bhalla, CMD, POWERGRID, Ravi P. Singh, Director (Projects) POWERGRID, R. K. Chauhan, Executive Director (NR-II) POWERGRID, J. P. Singh apart from other senior officials of state government and POWERGRID.
Modi had laid the foundation stone for this project on 12 August, 2014 and within 4.5 years, the project has been completed successfully.The project was awarded to Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (POWERGRID) by Government of India, on consultancy basis with funding provisions in the ratio of 95:05 (95% GoI share and 5% J&K state share).
POWERGRID is one of the Worlds Largest Power Transmission Utility, and has a wide network of 150,874 circuit kilometers transmission lines, with 238 Sub-stations and transformation capacity of 351,106 MVA.
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