Lakhanpur, Apr 18: Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah Monday visited Lakhanpur to get first hand appraisal of the completion of modern Toll Plaza coming up here at a cost of over Rs 32.20 crore.
 The Chief Minister was briefed about the status of the construction work and other aspects of the project at a meeting of officers he chaired to review the progress, an official statement said.
 Omar, according to the statement, laid stress on fast tracking the completion of the project for its full utilization. “The opening of the modern Toll Plaza would expand the facilities and help in smooth conduct of functioning for tax and toll realization”, he said directing the concerned to ensure cent percent operationalizing the project early.
 The advisors to the Chief Minister, Mubarak Gul and Devender Singh Rana, Parliament Member, Lal Singh, legislators, Charanjit Singh, Subash Gupta, Commissioner Secretary Finance, Sudhanshu Pandey, Deputy Commissioner, Kathua, Zahida Khan, SSP Kathua, J. L. Sharma, Architects of Toll Plaza, B. V. Sharma and Karan Badiyal were present in the meeting. State finance minister Abdul Rahim Rather accompanied the chief minister.
 In a PowerPoint presentation made in the meeting, it was stated that over 90 percent work has been completed for main office block, parking lots for 240 trucks, construction of 9 computerized weigh bridges, shelter sheds for drivers, recreational building, animal husbandry complex, storage, banking facilities, canteens, sanitation blocks and power and water supply installations.
 The new Toll Plaza is spread on 156 kanals and another 108 kanals of land to be obtained from railways is being added to the area. Out of the estimated cost of Rs. 32.20 crore an amount of Rs. 28.48 crores has been incurred on the project so far.
 The Lakhanpur is the gateway of Jammu and Kashmir State and main entry point for surface transport. Excise Toll Post and Commercial Taxes Check Post have been established here.
 The taxable imports recorded at Lakhanpur Commercial Taxes Post increased from Rs. 4275 crores in 2000-01 to Rs. 25125 crores in the year 2010 and exports during this period rose from Rs. 904 crores to Rs. 13777 crores. Similarly, number of registered dealers with Commercial Taxes Department increased from 22426 in 2004-05 to 58417 in the year 2010-11.
 The Revenue realization at Lakhanpur on account of toll during the year 2010-11 has been the order of Rs. 249.82 crores as compared to Rs. 208.92 crores during the year 2009-10 thus, showing a growth of 19.58 percent.
 Rather highlighted the importance of a modern Toll Plaza at Lakhanpur to ensure proper tax and toll realization and up to the mark required facilities at the Plaza.
 The Chief Minister also inspected Nagri Toll Post at Kathua and met various deputations. On way back Jammu the Chief Minister visited Chenab Textile Complex at Kathua and inspected its functioning.

Lastupdate on : Mon, 18 Apr 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 18 Apr 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 19 Apr 2011 00:00:00 IST