National Conference leader and Banihal MLA Sajjad Shaheen has laid the foundation stone for the Panchal–Khawrihal road, a long-awaited connectivity project sanctioned under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY). The 2.20 km road, approved at an estimated cost of Rs 60.23 million, is expected to benefit nearly 400 households by improving access to essential services and easing travel for residents of Panchal, Khawrihal and surrounding areas.
The project, sanctioned under Package No. JK14-4014, PMGSY-IV, Batch-I in Block Khari of Ramban district, is aimed at addressing a long-pending demand for reliable road connectivity in the region. Once completed, the road is expected to significantly reduce travel time and enhance access to healthcare, education, markets and administrative facilities.
Speaking at the ceremony, MLA Sajjad Shaheen said the government is prioritising road infrastructure across the Banihal constituency. He noted that in the first year of the current administration, 19 new roads have been sanctioned under PMGSY Phase-I along with several key bridges, including the main Banihal bridge and others in the Banihal–Gool belt.
Shaheen added that during the same period, 12 major roads were macadamised under C&T, and 13 more have been approved for improvements under the Pothole-Free initiative, with work scheduled to begin shortly. He said around three dozen new roads are being proposed under PMGSY Phase-II, while several other projects are in the pipeline.
Reaffirming the administration’s broader development agenda, Shaheen said the government led by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah is committed to ensuring dependable road access for even the remotest areas, along with essential services including drinking water, education, healthcare and electricity. He urged PMGSY engineers and executing agencies to maintain quality standards and complete the project within the stipulated timeframe.
Local residents expressed appreciation for the project, describing it as a fulfillment of a decades-old demand. Executive Engineer PMGSY Sansar Singh, officials, party workers and local citizens attended the event.
News source: Rising Kashmir
