Kathua: Continuing his public outreach campaign, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, Dr. Jitendra Singh, held a public durbar at village Parole in Block Barnoti today. During the visit, he inaugurated multiple road projects aimed at improving connectivity and addressing long-standing demands from local residents.
This marks the second public durbar Dr. Jitendra Singh has held in Kathua district in the past fortnight and the fourth in the area within the last few months. The event saw a large turnout of locals from Parole and neighboring villages, who took the opportunity to raise their concerns directly with the Union Minister.
During the durbar, many public issues were resolved on the spot. Speaking at the occasion, Dr. Jitendra Singh reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring ease of living for all citizens, regardless of faith, caste, or region. He emphasized the government’s tireless efforts to improve the lives of people, delivering essential services directly at their doorstep.
Dr. Singh also pointed out that the public durbars, held at both block and panchayat levels, are part of an ongoing initiative to address governance gaps and improve the efficiency of local administration. He reiterated that the durbars have become an essential platform for citizens to resolve grievances and directly engage with the Union Minister.
Earlier in the day, Dr. Jitendra Singh inaugurated three key roads under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), fulfilling a long-standing demand from the local population. One of the newly inaugurated roads, L034-Block Boundary Kathua to Boura, is 14.2 kilometers long and connects several important villages, including Baura, Bindal, Bindli, and Lari. The road also enhances access to the historic Mata Sundri temple, located on the outskirts of Parole.
The road was sanctioned in two stages, with Stage-I in 2016 and Stage-II in 2018, at a combined cost of Rs. 2,362.17 lakh. Dr. Singh had laid the foundation stone for the project in December 2016.
Additionally, the Union Minister inaugurated two more roads virtually: the 11.83 km L021 to Champal road, which costs Rs. 403.45 lakh and will benefit 901 people, and a 2.5 km stretch from L021 Dhar to Korkhana, costing Rs. 171.24 lakh, benefiting 432 individuals.
In his address, Dr. Jitendra Singh highlighted the government’s focus on improving connectivity in rural and remote areas of Jammu and Kashmir, which is crucial for the region’s infrastructure development. He mentioned that several other road projects in Kathua are nearing completion and will soon be inaugurated, further enhancing connectivity.
Dr. Singh also noted that his parliamentary constituency of Udhampur-Kathua-Doda has one of the highest numbers of roads built under PMGSY, a testament to the government’s commitment to rural development.
Pointing to the strategic importance of Kathua, Dr. Singh said the district is poised to become a commercial hub in North India, providing job opportunities for local youth and boosting the regional economy. He further highlighted key infrastructure projects, including North India’s first Bio-tech Park, a Seed Processing Plant, and the only Homeopathic College in the region, which will begin its first batch this session.
Dr. Singh concluded by announcing that the next recruitment drive for the Indian Army would take place in March, offering further opportunities for local youth.
The public durbar and road inaugurations reflect the government’s continued focus on infrastructure development and public welfare in the region, aiming to bring lasting improvements to the lives of residents in Kathua and surrounding areas.