Jammu & Kashmir - Projects and Development

[IndiansUnite]

Please post all news related to projects and development of J&K here.

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Centre to introduce auto LPG, CNG in J&K

Automobiles in Jammu and Kashmir would soon be running on liquefied petroleum gas and CNG, with the Centre planning to introduce these fuels in the state.
"Auto LPG will be introduced in the state in a big way to protect environment. It will be started with Srinagar", Union Petroleum Secretary MS Srinivasan told reporters here.
Srinivasan, who was here to attend a meeting of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, said LPG would be an intermediate arrangement till a CNG (compressed natural gas) pipeline is extended to the state.
The Jammu & Kashmir High Court had earlier asked the state government and the Centre to establish a CNG pipeline network in the state.
In the meeting, chaired by Union Petroleum Minister Murli Deora, it was decided that public sector oil companies like IOC, BPCL and HPCL would augment marketing and distribution infrastructure in the three states.
An official statement released after the meeting said oil firms plan to set up 25 retail outlets (ROS) and three LPG distributorships in Himachal Pradesh and 49 ROS and 24 distributorships in Jammu and Kashmir.
The oil marketing companies also give priority to customers in hilly areas for releasing LPG connections, it said, adding such initiatives have led to a reduction in deforestation to a very large extent.
The LPG cover in Jammu and Kashmir is 85 per cent, Uttarakhand 90 per cent and Himachal Pradesh 97 per cent of the total population, which is more than double the national average of 45 per cent, the release said.

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Ministry clears road project

The clearing of the Rs. 67 crore Bhadarwah-Chamba road project by the Tourism Ministry has ushered in a mood of jubilation in the eastern part of Jammu and Kashmir.
The project would provide Jammu and Kashmir its first-ever direct access with Himachal Pradesh. Union Tourism Minister Ambika Soni on Friday announced in a public rally here that the Bhadarwah-Chamba road project will help attract tourists visiting Himachal Pradesh to Bhadarwah via the Chamba area.

Read On

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PM likely to inaugurate Srinagar international airport in Sep

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is likely to inaugurate the new building at the Srinagar Airport, which has been declared as an international airport, in September this year.

Union Water Resources Minister Saif-ud-din Soz stated this during his meeting with Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel, according to a release by Press Information Bureau (PIB) here.

Read On

Pics posted by member 'India' in the aviation pic thread
Copyright Shawkat Ahmed
Click to view


Copyright Doughboyshredder

[IndiansUnite]

Tata Indicom plans to roll out services in JK

CDMA player Tata Teleservices, presently operating in 20 circles, plans to roll out its services in the North-East region and Jammu and Kashmir, once it gets the Government’s nod.
‘’We have completed all the formalities and are waiting for the license from the Government to provide services in the North-Eastern part of the country and Jammu and Kashmir,’’ Tata Teleservices Ltd President Naresh Malhan told UNI here.

Read On

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a week old news-
Air Deccan takes off for Leh, the country's highest airport

Air Deccan, India's second largest airline flagged-off its maiden daily flight from Delhi to Leh, the capital of Ladakh, deploying a 180-seater Airbus A320 on the route. With this latest launch, Air Deccan becomes the first low cost carrier to fly to the highest airport in the country.

Read On

[IndiansUnite]

Beautification plan for Jhelum river

Jammu and Kashmir government has launched an ambitious project to restore pristine glory of the river Jhelum and its embankments.

The government is spending Rs 18 crore on desilting and beautification of Jhelum in Srinagar, Minister for Public Health Engineering Mohammad Dilawar Mir said on Thursday while paying a visit to Zero Bridge at Lal Mandi here.

Mir directed Chief Engineer, Irrigation and Flood Control Najeebullah, Chief Engineer, Public Health Engineering, Kashmir, G M Dar and other senior engineers accompanied him to speed up the execution of recreation park at Zero Bridge to attract tourists.

He also directed for installing floodlights in the area and construction of viewing decks at various sites.

He asked them for proper landscaping of embankments and constructing a walkway from Zero Bridge to Amirakadal.

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Qazigund-Baramulla rail link to become operational by December: Azad

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad today said that the railway service from Qazigund to Baramulla in the Kashmir Valley is expected to start by December this year.

Addressing a convention of Congress party workers here, Azad said the rail link, constructed at a cost of Rs. 8000 crores, will benefit the state in terms of tourism and trade.

"We expect the rail link between Qazikund to Baramulla to become operational by December this year. This will boost trade and tourism in the region," Azad said.

He further said that the railway from Jammu to Baramulla would take another three years as several mountains are to be surveyed for the tunnels, bridges and roads to be made through them, which are the most difficult part.

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2500 seat auditorium to be built in Srinagar

Kashmir will soon have its biggest auditorium with a capacity to seat 2,500 in the shape of convocation complex at the University of Kashmir, Srinagar, which is under completion at the cost of Rs 8 crore. This complex, spread over 25,000 sq ft, is being touted the largest in north India and the best in the country.

Vice-Chancellor Abdul Wahid Qureshi said earlier many conferences and seminars had to be rescheduled due to lack of space.

“After the construction of the complex, our accommodation problem has been solved. Now we can hold international level conferences and seminars on the campus,” he said.

This would also help boost the academic activities of the university.

It has all facilities under one roof — from holding convocations, meetings, seminars, cultural programs to screening films, and a parking area for over a thousand vehicles. This would relieve pressure on the frequently used auditorium hall of the Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC), which has a capacity to seat 700 persons.

Neatly polished Makrana marble of Rajasthan in its curved corridors with glossy tiles on the walls gives an international look to the complex. Spacious, well-designed and decorated convocation hall with balcony looks like an indoor stadium with a seating capacity for 2,175 persons.

Comfortable pushback chairs have been fixed in a pattern to match arched design. Walls have been decorated with laminated teak sheets, bordered with a strip of typical Kashmiri embroidered crewel cloth. A wall-to-wall carpet, thick enough to provide cushion to feet, has been laid all over the hall. Even the doors of the hall have been treated acoustically to avoid any interference with the sound inside the hall.

With its own central heating system (CHS), the hall can be used in winters too. The complex, specifically the hall, is fireproof.

[ab041937]

Rs 34.58 cr Srinagar district plan approved

Srinagar, June 19: The current financial year’s plan outlay for Srinagar district has been approved at Rs 34.58 crore including Rs 26.92 crore as capital and Rs 7.66 crore as revenue component.

This was stated at District Development Board meeting of Srinagar district held at SKICC here today. Minister for Finance, Planning and Development Tariq Hamid Qarra chaired the meeting, an official statement said.

Giving details about the allocations for various sectors for the district during this fiscal. District Development Commissioner Srinagar Sheikh Aijaz Iqbal said that Rs 1.80 crore have been earmarked for agriculture and allied sectors, Rs 1.63 crore for rural development and Rs 40 lakh for power sector. He said Rs 5.40 crore would be utilized for communication sector, Rs 7.12 crore for health, Rs 1.91 crore for PHE and Rs 1.91 crore for self-employment sector. Rs 7.15 crore have been proposed for education sector and Rs 11 lakh for industries.

About physical targets fixed for various sectors, the District Development Commissioner said that District Industries Centre would put in efforts to provisionally register 450 units and formally register 230 units. Twenty-five handlooms would be modernized and 117 artisans covered under new insurance scheme. Thirty-four educational institutions have been proposed to be upgraded while mid day meal would be provided to 25000 students and free textbooks would be distributed among 35000 students. Under SSA, 2000 teachers would be imparted training. About 30300 children, nursing and pregnant woman would be provided nutrition. Six hundred cases are being sponsored under self employment while 325 house hold latrines would be constructed.

Reviewing last year’s expenditure and achievements, the meeting was told that Rs 63.56 crore were utilized under different sectors in the district.

The food grain and vegetable production in the district was registered at 142 metric tonnes while 5.90 lakh trout fish production was recorded. About 1933 fishermen were covered under accidental insurance scheme and 188 youth imparted handicraft training, About 58 kilometers of road were blacktopped and 124 kilometers metalled in the district.

The legislators present in the meeting projected various demands pertaining to bringing improvement in road network, drains, water and power supply, setting up public conveniences, maintaining parks and street lights, upgrading health and educational institutions, regulating traffic etc.

Tariq Hameed Qarra in his speech underscored the need for implementing all DDB decisions in letter and spirit within a stipulated time frame.

However, he added that the decisions should be within the purview of guidelines in vogue so that these are taken up for execution without any delay. He asked the concerned departments to identify the projects within 15-days time for final approval to planning department.

The Minister said that all public utility works must be taken up on priority basis adding that the legislators of respective constituencies should be taken into confidence. He also directed the officers to maintain the quality of work under all circumstances.

Present among others were Mayor SMC Abdul Rashid, legislators, Ali Muhammad Sagar, Mubarak Gul, Shafi Bhat, Muhammad Sayeed Akhoon, Muhammad Yaseen Shah, Shah Jahan Dar, s Khem Lata Wakhaloo and Sofi Ghulam Muhammad, Principal Secretary Planning S. S. Kapoor, Commissioner/Secretary Finance, B. B. Vyas, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Mehboob Iqbal, Heads of several departments, Chief Engineers of Various disciplines and other senior officers.

[ab041937]

Cleanup funds sinking in Dal
20 Jun, 2007 l 0000 hrs ISTlM Saleem Pandit/TIMES NEWS NETWORK

SRINAGAR: Despite Union government's fiscal grants to the tune of Rs 235.70 crore, there hasn't been any improvement in the conservation and restoration of Dal lake , according to a Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report.

The total area of the lake in 1962 was 24 sq km, which has shrunk to 11.98 sq km due to encroachments. Add to this the constant inflow of excreta and garbage from nearby hotels, and what you have is a water body gasping for life.

Vice-chairman of Lakes and Waterways Development Authority Mir Naseem Ahmad, however, claims they've taken several steps towards restoration of the lake. "We have removed thousands of tress within the Dal and have even taken measures to rehabilitate the lake dwellers after acquiring 7,500 kanals of land at Bemina in Srinagar," said Mir.

Jammu & Kashmir HC had last year taken note of a PIL on the extinction of this famous lake and directed the different agencies involved with conservation and maintenance to pull out all the stops to restore the lake to its original shape.

Over 300 hotels, restaurants, government offices and residential complexes were put on demolition notice by the Lakes and Waterways Development Authority (LAWDA) following HC’s directions.

However, a division Bench of the HC passed a split judgment on a PIL filed for conservation of Dal lake on March 29, 2007. The Bench, comprising former Chief Justice, Justice Bashir Ahmad Khan and Justice Bashir Ahmad Kirmani also could not agree on the steps needed to be taken.

In a 41-page judgment, Chief Justice Khan ordered the demolition of all constructions within a strip of 130 feet from the centre of the road.

[IndiansUnite]

Not Srinagar,go Pahalgam this summer



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Shopian to get a major facelift, says minister

The newly created Shopian district town in South Kashmir is all set to get a major facelift and the state government has already released Rs 20 lakh for the purpose, Minister of State for Roads and Buildings Mohammad Khalil Bandh said.

The facelift includes renovation of all the major roads in the town, he said, adding, "several development projects are also underway to improve the socio-economic profile of the people living in the district."

Read On

[Jai]

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Amarnath Shrine Board, Amarnath, Jammu and Kashmir [Design Stage]

Designed by Morphogenesis Architects, Amarnath Shrine Board project is a makeover of the 13 kilometer stretch that connects the base-camp of Balatal with the Amarnath holy caves.




From
They design architectural wonders, 26 Jan, 2006, about Morphogenesis Architectural Studious:

...

The second project that stands out is a project with the Amarnath shrine board. "This pilgrimage is the largest in the world," says Srivastava. "But it's disorganised, there's no formal housing for pilgrims, and the area is prone to heavy snowfall and avalanches."

"Our project with Amarnath," says Bhardwaj, "consists of three stages. First, we had to think of accommodation. Here we ran into various problems of strategy.

The area is 13,500 ft above sea level, has extremes of weather, and the roads are barely negotiable at the best of times. We realised it would be difficult to transport the raw materials up there, and build on-site, and it would also be difficult to build off-site and then assemble on-site. The problem was transport."

A brainstorming session brought the perfect solution: to carve the rooms into the mountain. And this is exactly what the team is planning to do. This has several advantages; not only will these rooms be self-heating, the entire carving process is mechanised and can take place fairly quickly. This is important as there are only a few months in the year when construction can actually take place.

Morphogenesis has also designed a dwar just before the cave. "Right now, there's no symbolic arrival point to signify the end of the journey," says Srivastava. And the journey is arduous: 45 km by the traditional route, and 13 km (which still takes half a day to walk) from the new base camp.

Using stone mined from the mountain, the Morphogenesis team designed a concept that involved eight pillars of stone, each denoting the eight points of the compass, ("because pilgrims come from all corners of the world," says Srivastava), and a waterway, which tapers down in the direction of the Amarnath caves, symbolising journey's end.

"We wanted to make it spiritual rather than religious," says Bhardwaj. "After all, people come to Amarnath to see caves and sculptures of ice, natural phenomena, not idols of gods."

The last part of the project is a mandap, where bhajans and other functions can be organised. This structure was another challenge to create. "Steel gets very brittle in the snow," says Bhardwaj, "so we made a shell-like structure that can fold into itself come every winter, and be put up again relatively easily in the summer months when the pilgrims come." Construction on this project will start this summer, and is expected to take at least 3-4 years to complete.

So supposedly construction has already started!

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Vaishno Devi Redevelopment, Katra, Jammu and Kashmir [Design Stage]

Designed by Morphogenesis Architects, Vaishno Devi Redevlopment will be a cultural centre for religious tourism, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Temple, Katra.




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-Jai

[ab041937]

Originally Posted by Jai

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Amarnath Shrine Board, Amarnath, Jammu and Kashmir [Design Stage]

Designed by Morphogenesis Architects, Amarnath Shrine Board project is a makeover of the 13 kilometer stretch that connects the base-camp of Balatal with the Amarnath holy caves.

How much does the design resembles Glasgow Armadillo

[IndiansUnite]

Waterfall gets facelift

With a view to boost tourism in the state, Jammu and Kashmir government has decided to revamp the Ahirbal water fall in Kulgam district under the Prime Minister's Reconstruction Programme.

The beautification of the water body which is being done at the cost of about Rs 20 crore includes upgradation of tourist infrastructure in the nearby area, Agriculture Minister Abdul Aziz Zargar said yesterday.

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District Development Board approves plan for Pulwama

More than half of the current year's district plan for Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir has been earmarked for the social and general sector at a district development board meeting chaired by Education Minister Peerzada Mohammad Sayeed today, officials said.

An amount of Rs 2,249.97 lakh has been fixed for social and general services while Rs 460.65 lakh would be utilised for agriculture and allied services

The total outlay for the district has been fixed at Rs 3,938.68 lakh which includes Rs 1,327.52 lakh as revenue component and Rs 2,611.16 lakh as capital component.

Addressing the meeting, Sayeed called upon the district administration to gear up to provide all basic amenities to people including electricity, drinking water, medicare and education.

Rural development has been allotted Rs 466.99 lakh, industries Rs 13.17 lakh, energy Rs 25 lakh, communication sector Rs 710 lakh and Rs 19.90 lakh has been provided for other sectors.

To seek cooperation of people for obtaining better results of various ongoing development schemes, Sayeed asked the officers to take local people and public representatives into confidence before launching any new programme of development.

The District Development Commissioner, Pulwama, Mehraj Ahmad Kakroo said expenditure to the tune of Rs 6,535.25 lakh comprising Rs 3,015.90 lakh revenue component and Rs 3,519.35 lakh capital component was incurred during 2006-07.

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New Cricket Stadium, 2 New Academies Coming Up

National Conference chief patron, former Chief Minister and President Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA) Dr Farooq Abdullah inaugurated 7th Mirza Noor-ud-Din Memorial invitational cricket tournament organized by Amateur Cricket Club (ACC) which is affiliated with (JKCA) at Kashmir University Ground on Wednesday.
In his inaugural address Dr.Farooq said that these kinds of sports activities are essential for the development of young generation of Kashmir. On the occasion Dr Farooq made a commitment for construction of new cricket stadium and two cricket academies one each in Srinagar and Jammu for which Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has already granted an amount of Rs 25 crore.

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Acchabal hill resort to get a facelift

Keeping in view its historic and tourism importance, Achhabal, a famous hill resort in Anantnag district will soon witness a facelift, Minister for Agriculture, Abdul Aziz Zagar said today. Acchabal, recently given the Tehsil and Municipality status, will be covered under a beautification programme, he said.

Modern civic amenities will be in place, with special focus on drains and lanes on scientific lines, he said while addressing a meeting of the District Development Board today. Streets will be illuminated and a workable sanitation system would be put in place, he promised. Further, a Rs 5.5 crore Acchabal drinking water supply scheme will also be implemented.

Responding to Power and Health Minister Peer Mohammad Hussain's request, the Board will bring the Rs 21 crore Achhabal-Shangus-Chittergul Road works under the ambit of Prime Minister's Grameen Sadak Yojna (PMGSY)and Utraso-Brariangan road under NABARD funding, officials said. Further, the Board will develop one playground each at Nowgam and Pushroo while Sonsuma Kohl (stream) would be transferred to Irrigation Department for complete remodeling.

As many as 15 primary schools will be upgraded to middle level schools while eight new middle schools, 21 primary schools and 63 additional classrooms will also come up at Shangus, officials said.

[IndiansUnite]

Central nod to Rs 298-cr lake conservation project in J&K

The centre has approved a Rs 298-crore project for the conservation and management of the famous Dal and Nageen lakes in Jammu and Kashmir.

The project envisages construction of six treatment plants to save the water bodies from raw sewerage and other waste materials, improvement of catchment areas, dredging, compensation for land acquisition and other structures, chairman of central science, technology, environment and forests (STEF) P G Narayanan said on Friday.

Read On
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Deccan gets contract for Amarnath Yatra

Deccan Aviation Ltd has been awarded a three-year contract by Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board to provide helicopter services for Amaranath Yatra organised every year by the J&K government during July and August.

Deccan Aviation helicopter service to the holy cave is available from Srinagar and Baltal. The flying time from Srinagar to Baltal is around 45 minutes and from Baltal to the holy cave around eight to ten minutes, a company release said.

G R Gopinath, Executive Chairman, Deccan Aviation said, "More than 1.25 lakh devotees visited the Amarnath Shrine last year which indicates the growing number of religious travelers in India."

[IndiansUnite]

Kashmir Lures Golfers to Bolster Tourism

WATCH THE VIDEO

"Kashmir wants to become a destination for golfers. It has invested millions of dollars in building and sprucing up at least three golf courses in the region, hoping to attract high-dollar tourists to some of the world's most breathtaking links. Raymond Thibodeaux reports from Srinagar, the capital of Jammu and Kashmir."

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Kashmir eyes $11bn floriculture business

"Floriculture is all about creating new employment opportunities... We are keen to focus on a million jobs."Abdul Aziz Zargar, State Agriculture Minister

JAMMU AND Kashmir's budding flower business is ready to blossom with the state keen to enter the $11 billion international floriculture trade and add a million jobs.

The flowers are already in bloom in the Kashmir valley, ready to maximise the potential of the business.

The sprawling Siraj Garden on the eastern bank of the Dal Lake here with the Zabarwan range providing the picturesque backdrop has over 350,000 tulip bulbs and is already being tipped as one of the largest tulip gardens in Asia.

Steps are also afoot to grow three million more tulips next spring to add to the famed valley's beauty - and give a fillip to the economy of a state that has been grappling with incessant secessionist violence. "Floriculture is all about creating new employment opportunities... We are keen to focus on a million jobs," state Agriculture Minister Abdul Aziz Zargar said. Towards this ultimate aim, the government has distributed resources for creating poly greenhouses with minor irrigation systems to interested entrepreneurs all over the valley, either free or at 50 percent subsidy rates.

The scheme, under the centrally sponsored Technology Mission, was available in every district in the Kashmir valley. The global floricultural sector, growing at a rate of 6-10 percent per annum, is estimated at $11 billion.

Facing tough competition from traditional production centres (in the US, Japan, Italy, and the Netherlands), India has also enrolled itself in the market with its flower industry worth $71 million and is working towards an export target of $1 billion by 2012, according to the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA).

Kashmir is hoping to play a vital role in achieving that target. "Kashmir, of course, has an unlimited potential for the floriculture industry, capable of boosting the state's economy," said Fida Igbal, flower culture development assistant (extension) at the department of agriculture here. "We could beat Holland not only in recreational flower gardens but also in exporting these and other cut flowers to all the neighbouring countries," Igbal said.

Kashmir, with its cold climate, is in a unique position to grow a large variety of flowers, including temperate flowers, besides tulips, and cultivating a wider variety of lilium, roses, lupins, hawthorns, wild crocuses, armedias, primulas and vin- CRS.

[HT]

[IndiansUnite]

Kashmir to have trains in 6 months from now

In the near future, Kashmir will no longer remain cut off from the rest of the country even during the severest winters, thanks to a path-breaking railway line.

In the Valley, the 120-km-long rail line between Qazigund and Baramulla is almost complete and trial runs will begin soon. By December-end, specially designed trains will be chugging in the valley on a broad gauge line.

Srinagar, Badgam, Kakapore and Pampore stations are ready with beautiful wooden carvings done by local artisans. The architecture of the station buildings blends with that in other parts of the Valley.

The Valley train has a specially designed 1,400-horse power engine and an auxiliary engine that will generate heat to keep the engine and its lubricants from freezing. It will also pump hot air into the coaches to keep passengers warm. The railways has also developed its own snow-cutting "cattle guard" for the engine so that the train runs in sub-zero temperatures without any problem.

• The main engine has a sleek aerodynamic profile with fibre reinforced plastic. The driver's cabin will be provided with a single glass screen to give a wider view. Along with "cab heating," the driver's screen has an inbuilt de-snowing and de-fogging unit.
  
• The "snow-cutting type cattle guard" has been developed by the Rail Coach Factory, Kapurthala, to clear snow from tracks during winter. "This will enable the train to run even in the absence of snow-cutting machines," a senior Northern Railway official said.
  
• Each coach has a capacity to seat 90 persons. Each coach has a 900-mm wide door to enable easier entry and exit.
  
• They will also have sliding doors like the ones in the Delhi Metro. The coaches have roof-mounted heating units, necessary during the severe winters.
  
• The heating units will keep the temperature at a constant level of 20 degrees Celsius. The windows will be wide, made of unbreakable splinter proof polycarbonate sheet, to provide a "breathtaking panoramic view of the Kashmir valley," the railway official added.
  
• The coaches have been provided with pneumatic suspension for better riding comfort and fitted with executive chair cars with fire resistant grade upholstery and a reclining mechanism. The coaches will have a public information system with display and automatic announcement features just like the Delhi Metro.

Work on other sections in Kashmir is also going on fast. These include the 25-km-long treacherous stretch between Udhampur and Katra, and the 150-km stretch between Katra and Qazigund, which will have the world's highest bridge — 359 metres from the ground. The trains will also pass through an 11-km-long tunnel.

The railway official said: "There is a lot of talk about China building a rail line to Tibet. But no one is appreciating the Indian Railways building a rail line in the world's most difficult mountainous terrain. Compared to this, the line in Tibet, which is a plateau, is a cakewalk." lol

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J&K to set up 10 industrial estates

The Jammu and Kashmir government proposes to set up 10 industrial estates across the state to give fillip to the sector, Minister of State for Industries and Commerce Romesh Chander said on Wednesday.

Industrialisation is the key to tackle the growing unemployment and the government will set up 10 industrial estates to give more fillip to the sector, Chander said addressing the Handicraft Trade Expo-2007 here.

He said the government has initiated numerous measures to rejuvenate the traditional handicrafts, which was a source of livelihood for a big chunk of population.

"Funds to the tune of Rs 18 crore have been released through Jammu and Kashmir Handicraft Corporation for establishment of infrastructure like Common Facility Centre, Craft Development Institute of Carpet Technology at Baghi Ali Marden Khan in interior Srinagar and Urban Haats in the state," he said.

The minister said that several steps have also been taken to provide better training and marketing facility to artisans. A project worth Rs three crore is under execution for revival of popular Kanni shawls.

Abdul Rashid Dar, Chairman, Handicrafts Development Corporation, which is eyeing Rs 12.27 crore sales this year, said, "The organisation has been striving for expansion of markets in India and abroad.”

[IndiansUnite]

Govt gives nod to new building for SPS Museum

In the historical Sri Pratap Singh Museum a huge collection of artifacts is lying in storerooms for want of space where these would have been displayed for public. They might, however, be put on display as the state government has given nod to the construction of a modern museum on the banks of River Jehlum here.
The new Museum, which would be constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 28 crore, will have a detached display section and a separate administrative block, officials said.
The foundation stone of the new Museum would be laid in September this year at Lal Mandi just behind the existing building of the SPS Museum. The project has been allotted to Jammu Kashmir Project Construction Corporation.
Officials of the SPS Museum say thousands of coins and other artifacts can’t be displayed because of the shabby condition of the Museum.
Established by Maharaja Pratap Singh in 1898 in his then summer guest house at Lal Mandi, the SPS Musuem is considered to be the largest museum in terms of its precious collection comprising 18,000 objects on archaeology, decorative art, coins, and natural history.
Presently, the officials say the major portion of collection is displayed in a haphazard manner owing to the shortage of space. “At the moment only half of the collection is displayed, the rest is in the storeroom,” the official said. There isn’t enough space in the Museum for displaying artifacts separately.
“We have been pressing hard for the construction of a new museum keeping in view the difficulty in preserving the precious artifacts and rare collection in the museum,” the official said.

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Tourists thrilled by Zorbing in J&K

[IndiansUnite]

Govt. plans roads linking all parts by 2009

Claiming to connect all the parts of Jammu and Kashmir by roads by 2009 under the Pradhamantri Gram Sadak Yojna (PMGSY), the Minister for Roads and Buildings, Gulchain Singh Charak, sought people's cooperation to execute development works in every corner of the State.

"All 2,500 populated villages of the State will be connected to main roads under PMGSY by 2009," Charak said addressing a gathering after inaugurating construction of 1.75 km road from Sangwal to Amuwal in Samba district of Jammu division.

Road connectivity would play a pivotal role in development of the State, especially in rural, hilly and border areas, he said, adding the centre has provided adequate funds.

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State judiciary goes online with e-court project

As part of computerization of courts all over India under the banner of “E-Courts Project,” the Jammu and Kashmir High Court on Monday went online joining all subordinate courts and the Apex Court.

Justice Hakim Imtiyaz Hussain, in charge of the e-court project along with Justice Nisar Ahmad Kakroo inaugurated the first phase the project. Speaking at the function, Justice Imtiyaz said, “Our Judiciary has been criticized for the delays and backlogs in the courts, but the introduction of information technology in courts will ensure speedy disposal of pending cases.”

Under the first phase, judicial service centers will be opened in all the court complexes of the state and the necessary training and awareness programs will be provided to the judicial officers and lawyers.

“Now anyone can file a case from anywhere in the world without making rounds of the courts,” Justice Imtiyaz said, adding that video conferencing facilities at High Court and the district courts will be provided which will help witnesses to record their statements without coming to courts.

Read On

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Reliance Money makes foray into Kashmir

Reliance Money (RM) - a subsidiary of Reliance Capital Limited owned by corporate giant Anil Dhiru Bhai Ambani group - Tuesday announced the launch of Reliance Life Insurance in the Valley. RM will operate in the Valley in collaboration with its business partner and franchisee, Globus Investment (GI).

Read On

[IndiansUnite]

World's highest rail bridge U/C in Kashmir

Location: Kauri in Jammu's Reasi district
Completion Deadline: December 2009
Height above Chenab: 359m
Length: 1315m
Cost: 600 crores
Current tallest bridge(any type): Millau Viaduct,France - 343m

The bridge is an engineering marvel and is being built using high quality earthquake resistant steel.

The bridge will eventually make the Valley accessible by train and remove the biggest stumbling block for the Jammu-Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla railway route, which is full of tunnels and difficult terrain.

Work on the Jammu-Udhampur line was completed in 2004 but it will be years before the full route is operational.

The laying of tracks has started in the north of Udhampur, which will connect Katra and make it easy for Vaishno Devi pilgrims to reach there.

Bahadur Singh, a local resident said, "It was a very far flung area, but now its entire picture has changed. Earlier, there was a lot of problem when going to Jammu or Srinagar, but now it will be much easier".

Once the railway line is complete, remote areas of the state will be connected to the rest of the country and trade and commerce in the Valley will receive a huge boost.

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ADB gives $720m for J&K power project

SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Ghulam Nabi Azad has succeeded in seeking $720 million Asian Development Bank assistance for the power section in the state. An official statement released here on Saturday said that the chief minister had an hour-long meeting with Union minister for power Sushil Kumar Shinde to discuss the approval for the same.

The ADB loan comes at an interest rate of six to seven per cent and would be used for construction of two power projects of Karthai and New Ganderbal, for the capacity building in power sector.

[Nitro]

Jai>> I dont know what it is but it seems like the world is going crazy. The proposal for the stretch up to Amarnath Cave is an insult to the hindu holy site.....similarly, i dont know if you've been following but the construction of skyscrapers outside the holiest site for muslims in mecca is similarly annoying: http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=334299

of course development is cool, but religious sites must be respected

IU>> thanks for the updates about the highest bridge that is u/c, i hadnt heard anything on the news about that, hopefully next summer i will be in J&K and may be able to see it u/c.

[IndiansUnite]

^NP man

Renderings of the bridge:






I added a thread in the Bridges Forum -

Highest Bridge in the world U/C in India - Chenab Bridge

[Hindustani]

indiansunite.................thanks. Thats a superb renderings. I hope its 4 lanes instead of just 2.

[IndiansUnite]

^It will be a double line rail bridge

[skganji]

[IMG]C:\Shobhan\Kashmir\jk.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]C:\Shobhan\Kashmir\22082007010048oa4.jpg[/IMG]

Testing to see if the images work.