Poonch, Dec 2 : Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday raised concern over the poor condition of border roads, saying ongoing widening, four-laning, and tunnel projects have left existing stretches neglected.
During his visit to Poonch, Abdullah said he reviewed the road conditions from Srinagar to Mughal Road, Bafliyaz, Poonch, and Rajouri.
“The roads are in bad shape not because work isn’t happening, but because work is happening. While major projects continue, the existing roads must still be properly maintained,” he said.
Abdullah said he will submit a detailed report to the Government of India and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, noting that the roads fall under the Border Roads Organisation. He urged the Union government to expedite the work and ensure maintenance until the tunnels are completed.
Responding to public demands for border bunkers, the CM said construction would continue based on feasibility. Individual bunkers would be built where possible, and community bunkers where space or resources are limited.
On the row over seat distribution in a university-run medical college, Abdullah dismissed calls for religion-based allotment.
“NEET-based admissions cannot be altered on religious grounds. Neither the law nor the Constitution allows this,” he said, adding that institutions seeking religion-based reservations must relinquish government funding and amend their rules.
Commenting on the demolition of a journalist’s house, Abdullah said the action had not taken place under his government’s directions. “Those who appointed the officer responsible should be questioned when they visit here,” he remarked.
