CM raises Bandipora-Sumbal highway demand with Union Minister

Srinagar, Jan 10: Chief minister Omar Abdullah has raised the demand of highway status to Bandipora-Sumbal-Gurez with the Union minister for Road, Transport and Highways days after MLA Bandipora Nizamuddin Bhat wrote a letter to the chief minister, seeking former’s intervention.
The chief minister while reverting to the legislator, in a letter, stated that the matter has been taken up the Union ministry for consideration.
“This has reference to your D.O letter dated 20-12-2024, containing issue relating to grant of National highway status the road from Sumbal to Gurez. The issue has been taken up with the Union Ministry vide officer letter No.HCM/PS/2024/ND-04 for consideration,” reads the letter.
Earlier, Bhat has sought intervention of chief minister Omar Abdullah to have this “long pending demand duly considered for early redressal”. He had stated that Bandipora’s main connectivity has not been accorded highway status from Sumbal to Gurez, despite its strategic, economic, and accessibility considerations.
Nizamuddin Bhat also raised the issue in the first session of the Jammu and Kashmir assembly in November last year, seeking intervention of the house to get this demand redressed at an earliest. (KNO)