JASROTA, Oct 12: BJP MLA from Jasrota, Rajiv Jasrotia, today laid the foundation stones for road development projects worth approximately Rs 11.51 crore and inaugurated permanent restoration works of damaged Public Health Engineering (PHE) infrastructure worth Rs 3.40 crore, taking the combined value of the road and water infrastructure projects to approximately Rs 14.91 crore. He also inaugurated a Kissan Mandi at Bakhta, focusing on improving agricultural marketing facilities for local farmers.
The initiatives cover important road stretches and water supply schemes across the constituency and are aimed at strengthening rural infrastructure, improving connectivity, restoring essential public utilities and addressing the everyday needs of residents. The projects include culvert restoration, road macadamisation, blacktopping and the permanent restoration of damaged water supply infrastructure under the Jal Shakti Department.
Among the road projects is the permanent restoration of the culvert on the Logate–Sahar Link Road, involving an advertised amount of Rs 30 lakh. The work is intended to restore essential road infrastructure and improve connectivity for residents travelling along the route.The macadamisation of the Logate Morh–Taki Road, involving an advertised amount of Rs 30 lakh, is another project aimed at improving the road surface and making daily commuting more convenient. Similarly, the Logate Morh–Plah Morh Link Road will be macadamised at an advertised cost of Rs 40 lakh, strengthening connectivity between adjoining rural areas.
Another major project concerns the Tridwan–Khoinaal road, involving an amount of Rs 4.95 crore for a total length of 2.5 kilometres, with work beginning from the first kilometre. The project is expected to improve accessibility for residents and facilitate the movement of people and goods.The blacktopping of the L034 Link Road from Plah Morh to Sangan, involving an amount of Rs 5.56 crore, is another significant component of the development programme. The upgraded road surface is expected to provide smoother travel and improve connectivity for communities dependent on the route.
The road projects are expected to benefit rural residents, commuters, students, workers and farmers by improving transportation links and facilitating access to educational institutions, healthcare facilities, markets and other essential services. Better road connectivity can also support local economic activity and enable farmers to transport their agricultural produce more conveniently.
In a significant step towards strengthening drinking water infrastructure, Rajiv Jasrotia inaugurated permanent restoration works of damaged PHE infrastructure under the Jal Shakti Department, PHE Division Kathua, involving a total cost of Rs 340.23 lakh (approximately Rs 3.40 crore).The restoration works cover three Water Supply Schemes (WSS)—Bhed and Balode, Kathera, and Allair and Boura. According to the project details displayed on the inauguration plaque, the allocation for WSS Bhed and Balode is Rs 117.37 lakh, WSS Kathera Rs 140.91 lakh, and WSS Allair and Boura Rs 81.95 lakh.
The restoration of damaged water supply infrastructure is aimed at repairing essential assets and strengthening the functioning of these schemes. Reliable drinking water services are fundamental to public health, household well-being and the overall quality of life in rural areas.The works are particularly important for residents who depend on these water supply schemes for their daily requirements. Their effective execution and subsequent maintenance will be essential to ensuring the sustained functioning of the infrastructure and dependable water services for the beneficiary areas.With these initiatives, the road and water infrastructure projects represent a combined investment of approximately Rs 14.91 crore, directed towards improving connectivity and strengthening essential public services in the Jasrota constituency.
Apart from the infrastructure projects, Jasrotia inaugurated a Kissan Mandi at Bakhta to strengthen agricultural marketing facilities and provide farmers with a dedicated space for selling their produce.The facility is intended to improve farmers’ access to local markets and facilitate agricultural marketing. For farming households, accessible markets and dependable transportation are important in reducing logistical difficulties and ensuring that produce can reach potential buyers more efficiently.
The development of market facilities alongside road infrastructure can help strengthen the rural economy by improving connections between agricultural producers, buyers and local markets. The initiative also highlights the importance of addressing the needs of farming communities through improved infrastructure and better market access.
Speaking on the occasion, Rajiv Jasrotia said that the projects represented an important step towards strengthening rural infrastructure and improving the quality of life of people across the Jasrota constituency.He said road connectivity and reliable drinking water services were essential requirements for rural development. While better roads facilitate access to healthcare, education, markets and employment opportunities, properly functioning water supply infrastructure is critical for meeting the daily needs of households.
Jasrotia said the restoration of the Logate–Sahar Link Road culvert, macadamisation of the Logate Morh–Taki and Logate Morh–Plah Morh roads, improvement of the Tridwan–Khoinaal road and blacktopping of the Plah Morh–Sangan link road would strengthen the local road network and make transportation more convenient for residents.
He also emphasised the importance of restoring damaged water supply infrastructure, stating that drinking water facilities must function efficiently to meet the needs of local communities. He stressed that quality construction, timely completion and regular maintenance were essential to ensure that public investment delivered lasting benefits.
Highlighting the Kissan Mandi at Bakhta, Jasrotia said that strengthening agricultural marketing infrastructure was important for supporting farmers and improving their access to buyers. He observed that improved roads and accessible market facilities could collectively facilitate the movement and sale of agricultural produce, contributing to rural economic activity.
He further said that development must address the practical needs of people at the village level, with particular attention to connectivity, essential public services and facilities supporting agriculture. He underlined the importance of coordination among the administration, engineers, elected representatives and local communities to ensure effective implementation of development works.
Several prominent public representatives and local leaders were present on the occasion, including Sarpanches Dhyan Singh, Punjab Singh, Bhopinder Sharma, Balwant Singh, Shiv Dev Singh, Sudarshan Khajuria and Bholi Singh of Sahar; Gandharb; Manjeet Singh, Mandal Pradhan Jasrota; Randeep Singh Pappi; Lambardar Vicky; Daljeet Singh, SGPC member; Harjeet Singh; and Naib Sarpanch Joginder, among others.The road development projects, restoration of water supply infrastructure and inauguration of the Kissan Mandi collectively focus on strengthening rural connectivity, improving essential public services and supporting agricultural activities across the Jasrota constituency.