DH NEWS SERVICE
NEW DELHI, may 7
In view of the current developments along the India-Pakistan border, Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh’s proposal for the widening of the strategic Udhampur Dhar Road will be expedited.
This will be a significant boost to border infrastructure and regional connectivity, both from the point of view of ease of public transport and more so in the interest of border security and defence.
Dr Jitendra Singh had for long advocated the widening of the Dhar Road in response to a consistent public demand. However, the proposal faced delays due to technical constraints, as the existing Border Roads Organisation (BRO) norms did not permit the required expansion, necessitating a referral to the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).
Meanwhile, in the light of the current developments along the India- Pakistan border, Dr Jitendra Singh brought this issue to the notice of Indian Army as well as BSF authorities, citing the security angle related to the widening of this road, which found merit with all concerned.
Sources say that particularly in the wake of “Operation Sandhoor”, the Defence authorities as well as the MHA authorities have decided to follow up the issue with the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH) to seek the widening of Dhar Road by NHAI.
Nearly 150 km Udhampur-Pathankot Dhar road, constructed by the BRO, is virtually the lifeline of people living along the highway from Udhampur to Pathankot. Besides Pathankot, the road is a vital link to Ramnagar, Majalta, Samba and Kathua district.
With recent developments, the proposal has gained fresh momentum, as both the Ministry of Home Affairs—based on inputs from the BSF—and the Ministry of Defence—acting on inputs from the Indian Army—have extended their support. This renewed backing is expected to place the project on a fast track in the near future.
Dr Jitendra Singh again followed up this issue today with the concerned authorities during a BRO function at which he was accompanying the Defence Minister Rajnath Singh who inaugurated 50 major projects completed by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), including six vital projects in the Udhampur region of Jammu & Kashmir. The projects—spanning six states and two union territories—were inaugurated at a formal ceremony held at the Manekshaw Auditorium in the capital.
Speaking to the media later, Dr. Jitendra Singh congratulated the people of Udhampur and Kathua, and expressed gratitude to the BRO for executing high-impact infrastructure projects in some of the country’s most challenging terrains.
In a social media post on X following the ceremony, Dr. Jitendra Singh wrote, “Congratulations #Udhampur #Kathua #Doda! And Thanks #BRO. PM Sh @narendramodi’s priority for #JammuAndKashmir stands out once again. Out of the countrywide road & bridge projects virtually inaugurated this evening by Raksha Mantri Sh @rajnathsingh, as many as six belong to this Lok Sabha constituency. These are: 1) Basoli-Bani-Bhaderwah (Sewal Bridge) 2) Dhar-Udhampur (Pesku Bridge) 3) Dhar-Udhampur (Dersu-VI Bridge) 4) Jammu-Srinagar (Birhon Bridge) 5) Rajpura-Nidhala (Babban Bridge) 6) One key road in an operationally active area (name not being made public for security reasons)”.
The six infrastructure projects from the Udhampur region include five bridges and one road. The newly inaugurated bridges are: Sewal Bridge on the Basoli-Bani-Bhaderwah axis, Pesku and Dersu-VI Bridges on the Dhar-Udhampur road, Birhon Bridge on the Jammu-Srinagar highway, and the Babban Bridge on the Rajpura-Nidhala route. These are expected to improve both civilian access and strategic military movement in a region that plays a pivotal role in national security.
The 6 projects in Udhampur-Kathua form a part of a larger initiative of 17 roads, 30 bridges, and three miscellaneous works undertaken by BRO at a cost of ?1,879 crore. Designed to strengthen strategic logistics and local economic potential, the infrastructure push aligns with the government’s motto: “SurakshitSeemayein, Sashakt Bharat; SurakshitSeemayein, Samriddha Bharat.”
Hailing BRO’s work, Dr. Jitendra Singh highlighted the scale and significance of the effort: “My compliments to BRO for such commendable work, executed in extremely difficult terrain and harsh climate, which is a reflection of the grit and determination of the Border Roads Organisation.”
The focus on Jammu & Kashmir underscores the Centre’s consistent development-first approach in the region. For the residents of Kathua, Doda, and Udhampur, the new infrastructure promises better access, improved safety, and new economic opportunities—bringing national priorities closer to people’s everyday lives.
