Army Engineers complete work on five crossing points

RAWALPINDI: Beside opening of road links in affected areas of Azad Kashmir and NWFP the Pakistan Army Engineers have successfully accomplished the Herculean task of completing road links at the five crossing points on the the Line of Control earmarked for the opening as agreed between governments of both countries.

The opening of crossing points involved enormous engineers tasks which included mine clearance, track construction and preparation of approaches, exit and launching of bridges on water obstacles.

Pakistan Army Engineers prepared a one and a half kilometer long track at Titrinot-Poonch crossing, completed at bridge at Chiliana, completed a track and launched an improvised foot bridge at Chakoti, constructed a kilometer long track and lifted mines at Haji-Pir-Khoja Bandi-Uri crossing and constructed a one a half kilometer track at Sehra-Lechial crossing. LOC crossing at Madarpur- Titrinot-Poonch and Chakoti-Uri have already been completed while the third crossing point at Tithwal will be opened on Saturday, November 12.

Opening of Jhelum Valley road upto Chakoti is a highly significant achievement of the Pakistan Army Engineers. The engineers troops employed for opening of this important road link have put their heart and soul to achieve this mile stone. Kaghan Valley road has already been opened for light traffic. Now an all out effort is being made to establish road link in Neelum Valley. A worthwhile progress in this regard along LOC including launching of foot suspension bridge at Chaliana has also been completed.

Presently 14 Engineers Battalions have been employed for reopening of roads in earthquake affected areas of Azad Kashmir, removal of dead bodies and rubble from city and help civil administration and locals in reconstruction of office buildings and their houses respectively.

All roads in affected areas have been opened except some Neelum Valley road.