Budgam, Oct 23: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday said his government was making every effort to accelerate development across the Union Territory, asserting that his visit to Beerwah was aimed at reviewing and advancing key development projects in the constituency.
Speaking to reporters at Beerwah tehsil, the Chief Minister said several development initiatives had been taken up in the area, with a focus on improving infrastructure, road connectivity, electricity supply and public amenities.
Recalling his association with the Beerwah Assembly constituency, Omar Abdullah said he had been elected as its MLA in the 2014 Assembly elections and had remained committed to fulfilling the promises made to the people.
“I have a long-standing relationship with Beerwah. When the people elected me as their representative in 2014, I promised to work for the development of the constituency. After the formation of our government, we initiated several development projects here,” he said.
The Chief Minister said around ₹25 crore had been allocated for various development works in Beerwah. Of the six projects, one has been inaugurated, while foundation stones have been laid for the remaining five. He said each project was important for addressing the developmental needs of the constituency.
Highlighting the completion of a long-pending public demand, Omar Abdullah said a bridge over Nallah Sukhnag, which had been damaged in the 2014 floods, had been reconstructed and handed over to the public.
“The bridge was a long-pending demand of the people. I am thankful to the Deputy Chief Minister and the concerned department for completing the work within a short period. The bridge has now been handed over to the people,” he said.
The Chief Minister said measures were also being taken to improve the appearance of Beerwah town. The foundation stone has been laid for a walking track and decks along the banks of Nallah Sukhnag. In addition, ₹4 crore has been earmarked for the construction and improvement of lanes and drains in the Beerwah main town.
On electricity infrastructure, Omar Abdullah said the capacity of the receiving station in Beerwah would be enhanced to improve power supply to the area. He said the work was expected to be completed within five months.
He added that the foundation stone had also been laid for a transformer workshop at the Beerwah receiving station, where damaged transformers could be repaired, helping improve the maintenance of the local power distribution network.
Addressing concerns over road development, the Chief Minister said several road projects had been delayed due to the India-Pakistan conflict and a shortage of raw materials. He said funds had already been provided for road development and macadamisation, adding that roads approved during the current year were expected to be completed next year.
Omar Abdullah also assured residents that pending development works would receive attention. Responding to the demand for a stadium in Beerwah, he said a suitable site would be identified to enable the Sports Department to take up the project.
The Chief Minister also addressed concerns over the proposed diversion of traffic from the national highway passing through the centre of Beerwah town. Residents have expressed apprehensions that diverting traffic could affect local businesses and commercial activity.
He said the matter had been taken up with the concerned highway authorities and that efforts would be made to address the concerns of the local population.
When asked about a possible Cabinet expansion and other political issues, Omar Abdullah declined to comment, saying his focus during the visit was on development projects and road-related concerns in Beerwah.
