The Roads and Buildings (R&B) Department has initiated restoration work on damaged roads across Jammu, Samba and Kathua districts, with completion targeted by December 15. An estimated Rs 72 crore has been earmarked for the project, covering nearly 300 works already tendered under the City & Town Scheme.
Officials confirmed that several roads have already been restored, including Panjtirthi–Sidhra road damaged by monsoon landslides and the Nagrota–Kole Kandoli road, repaired at a cost of Rs 35 lakh. Link roads such as Kot Bhalwal–Dansal have also been restored, while proposals worth Rs 34 crore for a 350-metre motorable bridge at Katal Batal and Rs 12.50 crore for full restoration of the Sidrah–Surinsar Mansar road have been submitted to the Government for approval.
In Nagrota and adjoining areas, small link roads have been repaired, while macadamization of Ambphalla–Bantalab road is underway. Roads in Bhatindi, Sunjwan, Bishnah, Rajpura and Bahu constituencies are also being restored under the ongoing scheme. The Muthi–Akalpur and Muthi–Rajouri Line link roads have already been macadamized.
Meanwhile, the fourth Tawi bridge, which suffered major damage during recent floods, has been temporarily restored for vehicular traffic. The Public Works Department (PWD) has completed repairs on both tubes and is working on the remaining portion, expected to be finished within a week. About Rs 1.72 crore is being spent on temporary restoration.
For permanent reconstruction of the damaged portion of the bridge, estimated to cost around Rs 30 crore subject to a detailed project report, the Government plans to hand over the work to the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) or another Central agency experienced in constructing heavy structures.
Chief Engineer R&B, Rajiv Gupta, confirmed that restoration work is progressing rapidly across the three districts, with the majority of damaged roads scheduled for completion by December 15. He added that the fourth Tawi bridge has been made operational temporarily, while permanent reconstruction will be undertaken by a Central agency.
