The bridge will open up new areas for development and tourism in Kathua and Doda districts and along the Ranjit Sagar Dam. The 592 meter bridge, to be built by the Border Roads Organization of the Ministry of Defence at a cost of 145 Crores rupees, will also open up an alternative route to National Highway 1A and to the Kashmir Valley via Basholi, Bani, Bhaderwah, Kishtwar, Chhatroo and Anantnag, boosting development and better connectivity.
The Bridge is scheduled to be completed by September 2014. A galaxy of dignitaries including the Defence Minister AK Antony, Union Minister for Health & Family Welfare Shri Ghulam Nabi Azad, Minister for New & Renewable Energy Dr Farooq Abdullah, Chief Minister of J&K Shri Omar Abdullah, the Minister of State for Defence Dr MM Pallam Raju attended the function.
Later addressing a public gathering at Basohli, UPA Chairperson, Ms Gandhi said, the UPA Government recently announced a package for the State whereby one lakh jobs will be provided to the youth of the state in a period of 3- 5 years.
Gandhi said that Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and J&K Chief Minister Mr. Oamr Abdullah are working in tandem to take the J&K State on the path of progress and development. She complimented the people of the State for their massive participation in the ongoing Panchayat elections and said that it should be an eye opener to the separatists and militants.