29/05/2026
PRESS RELEASE
MLA Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Constituency, Shri Baldev Raj Sharma today conducted an extensive joint inspection visit to various affected spots in Village Latori, Panchayat Latori Dhanori, in connection with the damages caused due to the ongoing construction work of the Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway.
The inspection was carried out jointly with the Project Director, NHAI PIU Udhampur, Project Manager APCO Company, along with officials and technical staff of NHAI and APCO Company. Tehsildar Katra, Executive Engineer PWD (R&B) Division Katra along with departmental staff, AEE Irrigation Reasi along with field staff, AEE PMGSY Reasi, AE Jal Shakti (PHE) Katra, officers of the Police Department, Block Development Department and a large number of local residents were also present during the visit.
During the inspection, the MLA and the accompanying officers visited various damaged locations and took on-the-spot assessment of the problems being faced by the public due to the ongoing construction activities. The local residents strongly projected their grievances and demanded immediate restoration of damaged public infrastructure.
After the inspection, detailed discussions were held by MLA Baldev Raj Sharma with the Project Director NHAI, Project Manager APCO Company and other concerned officials regarding the urgent public demands and remedial measures required in the area.
The major demands raised during the inspection included desilting work near the Check Dam at Village Latori, desilting of approximately 1100 meters of Tootan Wali Khul from Check Dam to RD 0 to RD 1100 meters, restoration and repair of damaged spots of Tootan Wali Khul, channelization of Latori Nallah from Gambo Nallah to the Check Dam, blacktopping and construction of damaged drainage channels from Nomain to Latori Dhanori Road, blacktopping of damaged portions of Kalika Nagar to Latori Road up to the water source, and restoration and blacktopping of the PMGSY road at Latori which has been damaged due to the ongoing expressway construction work.
MLA Baldev Raj Sharma strongly emphasized before the NHAI and APCO officials that these are the genuine and primary public demands of Village Latori under Panchayat Latori Dhanori and all restoration and repair works must be taken up on priority basis without any delay. He further stated that as per the tender guidelines and mandated provisions of the project, any damage caused to public infrastructure, roads, khuls, drainage channels or other public assets during the ex*****on of construction work must be restored and repaired by the executing agency concerned.
The MLA stressed that developmental works should not become a cause of hardship for the local population and directed the executing agencies to ensure immediate corrective and restoration measures in all affected areas.
The locals appreciated the personal intervention of the MLA in taking up their issues directly with the concerned authorities and conducting an on-ground inspection for the early redressal of public grievances.
The Project Director NHAI and officials of APCO Company assured the MLA and the public that all genuine demands and restoration works would be taken up in a phased and time-bound manner at the earliest.
