Srinagar, April 15 (KNS): Senior Congress leader and former MLA Abdul Rahim Rather has expressed deep anguish over the disapproval of the vital Vailoo-Singhpora and Sudhmahadev-Dranga tunnel projects by the Public Investment Board (PIB), terming it a serious setback to the long-standing aspirations of the people of Chenab Valley and South Kashmir.
Calling the move a betrayal, Rather said, “These tunnels were not just infrastructural projects; they were lifelines of development, connectivity, and progress for the people living in the mountainous regions of Doda, Kishtwar, and Anantnag. Denial or delay of such transformative projects at this stage is a betrayal of public trust.”
He recalled that it was the visionary leadership of Mufti Mohammad Sayeed that first envisioned connecting the Chenab Valley with Kashmir through strategic tunnel links. “I invested my best efforts during my tenure as MLA to pursue the sanction of the Vailoo-Singhpora tunnel.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp ChannelI consistently followed up the matter at all appropriate levels, fully recognising its critical role in bridging geographical, economic, and social gaps between the two regions,” he said.
“Leaving the project midway is not only a grave injustice to the people at both ends of these tunnels, but a loss for the entire Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
These proposed tunnels have the potential to revolutionise inter-regional connectivity, boost tourism, facilitate trade, and improve access to healthcare and education for thousands living in remote and underserved areas,” he added.
Abdul Rahim Rather urged Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to take up the matter with the concerned authorities, particularly the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Government of India, for the immediate initiation of construction work on these two vital tunnels, as all required formalities have been completed and the projects already stand tendered.(KNS)