Tauseef Ahmad
Bandipora, June 9: Celeberation has been erupted across Bandipora on Tuesday after the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) floated a tender for the preparation of a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the proposed Sumbal- Bandipora–Gurez National Highway project, a long-pending demand of the district.
Residents burst firecrackers, distributed sweets and gathered in several parts of the district to celebrate what many described as a historic step towards improving connectivity and accelerating economic development in north Kashmir.
Speaking with the media, Bandipora MLA Nizamuddin Bhat termed the development a “people’s victory” and credited the residents for remaining united and consistently raising the demand for the road project.
“The commitment was made with the people and today that commitment has begun to materialise. This achievement belongs to the people of Bandipora who stood together irrespective of political affiliations,” Bhat said while addressing the media.
The MLA urged residents to maintain calm and avoid political confrontation over the issue, saying development should remain above partisan interests. He said leaders across political parties had displayed rare unity whenever matters concerning Bandipora’s development were involved.
He added that the project would strengthen connectivity between Srinagar, Bandipora and the strategically important Gurez Valley, while opening new opportunities in tourism, trade and employment for local residents. Gurez, which remains vulnerable to weather-related disruptions and road closures during winter, has long demanded improved all-weather connectivity with the Kashmir Valley.
The NHAI earlier today invited bids for the DPR of the proposed highway, marking the first major procedural step towards the execution of the ambitious project. The move has been widely welcomed across Bandipora, with residents expressing hope that the project will now move swiftly from planning to implementation.
