DPR Submitted for Upgradation of Chandak-Mandi Road to Triple Lane Standard

Decade-Long Neglect Ends, But Will Promises Finally Meet the Pavement ?

JJ Toseef R Ganai
Poonch, May 29 – In a significant stride toward infrastructural advancement, the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the comprehensive upgradation of the Chandak-Mandi Road has been officially submitted to the competent authorities. The proposed project envisions the transformation of the existing thoroughfare into a triple-lane arterial route, accompanied by essential ancillary works. This initiative heralds a new era of connectivity and regional integration for the hitherto overlooked area.
This long-anticipated development owes much to the unwavering commitment and persistent advocacy of the Hon’ble MLA Haveli, Shri Ajaz Ahmad Jan. His consistent engagement with the higher echelons of administration has culminated in the successful allocation of ?56.60 Crores from the Civil Secretariat in Srinagar, an emphatic endorsement of the project’s critical importance.
Recognizing the immediate hardships endured by daily commuters, an interim allocation of ?2.50 Crores has been sanctioned specifically for the blacktopping of the existing road. This provisional measure seeks to offer short-term reprieve to travellers, many of whom have long navigated the treacherously dilapidated route under trying circumstances.
For over a decade, the Chandak-Mandi Road-an essential conduit linking Tehsil Mandi, the revered Shri Budha Amarnath Ji Temple, Loran, and the strategically significant border area of Sawjian-has languished in a state of neglect. Characterized by crumbling edges, cavernous potholes, and frequent landslides, the road has not only impeded daily life but also jeopardized the safety and economic vitality of the region. The appalling condition of this route has stood as a stark testament to infrastructural apathy, drawing widespread public ire and consistent pleas for intervention.
The newly envisioned transformation is anticipated to yield multifaceted benefits. It will not only streamline vehicular movement and reduce travel time but also invigorate local tourism, facilitate smoother access to religious and border destinations, and catalyse socio-economic upliftment across the broader Poonch region.
This ambitious undertaking signals a renewed commitment by the administration to address grassroots grievances, rectify infrastructural deficits, and lay the foundation for equitable regional development.