BANI, July 26, 2025 : Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh on Saturday held a two-hour-long Public Durbar in the remote hilly town of Bani, Kathua, as part of his sustained outreach across the Udhampur-Doda-Kathua parliamentary constituency.
The session saw participation from district officials and heads of departments including PWD, Health, Education, PHE, and PMGSY, with on-the-spot redressal of several public grievances. Citizens and public delegations raised developmental issues, many of which were resolved immediately, while others were forwarded for time-bound action.
In a separate meeting, Dr Singh also reviewed the security situation in the wake of recent encounters and incidents. He was briefed by police and civil administration officials and called for deployment of paramilitary forces in vulnerable areas to bolster local confidence. Officers assured prompt action.
Among key announcements, the Minister directed the administration to replace the decades-old “Jhoola” bridge in Bani and prepare a DPR. He assured funding support, including from his MPLAD Fund.
He also announced the widening of Dhar Road, a strategically important route for both civilians and security personnel.
Responding to media queries, Dr Singh provided updates on the Chattergala Tunnel project, a proposed 6.8 km tunnel that will connect Lakhanpur to Doda via Bani. He said the project—estimated at ₹4,000 crore—was earlier under BRO but later handed over to NHAI, and efforts are being made to include it in the current plan. Once completed, it will reduce Doda–Lakhanpur travel time to four hours and boost tourism and employment.
Dr Singh emphasized the government’s commitment to accessible and transparent governance, underlining the role of Public Durbars in bridging the gap between people and administration. He thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for prioritizing regional connectivity and development projects in the area.
Local dignitaries including MLAs Dr Rameshwar and Darshan Singh, former MLA Jeevan Lal, DDC Chairman Col Mahan Singh, and others were present.
Dr Singh reaffirmed the Centre’s vision of “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayas”, and said such outreach strengthens democratic accountability at the grassroots level.
