Srinagar, Aug 15 : Jammu and Kashmir will complete construction of 3,500 km of roads during the financial year 2026-27 and establish 1.35 lakh entrepreneurial units under Mission Yuva, Cabinet Minister Javed Dar said on Saturday.
Addressing an Independence Day function, Dar said the government’s fundamental objective was to improve the standard of living of every citizen while creating more employment opportunities for the youth.
He said agriculture remained the foundation of the economy and the government was working to integrate traditional farming with modern technology and markets.
A baseline crop survey is being conducted across all districts, while all farmers are targeted to be brought onto a digital platform by March 2027, he said.
The government has set a target of covering 10 lakh agricultural plots and bringing 3 lakh hectares under oilseed cultivation, Dar said, adding that the initiative would help increase farmers’ income and reduce dependence on edible oil imports.
He said centres of excellence for vegetables and floriculture were being established across districts, while crop insurance coverage worth Rs 6,500 crore has been targeted for crops including apple, saffron, mango and litchi.
The minister said the government was also strengthening the post-harvest infrastructure for horticulture growers to improve storage, market access and returns.
Work worth Rs 17.5 crore is underway to upgrade Sopore Mandi, while cold-storage and apple pack-house facilities are being established at key horticulture centres, he said.
On rural development, Dar said 87 villages would receive Rs 2 crore each over the next two years for development under the government’s model village programme.
He said more than 1,400 projects had been planned under PMGSY-IV, covering 7,000 km of roads, while 1,209 unconnected habitations had been provided all-weather road connectivity.
The government has allocated Rs 861 crore for restoration of roads and bridges damaged during the floods and landslides of 2025, he said.
In the health sector, Dar said PET scan facilities had been made available in all 12 government medical colleges, while dialysis units were being established at community health centres and sub-district hospitals.
Emergency and accident hospitals will also be established at Poonch and Uri, he said.
Highlighting education initiatives, the minister said 329 high and higher secondary schools were being provided classrooms and other facilities, benefiting around 20,000 students.
“Our youth are the centre of Jammu and Kashmir’s development,” Dar said, referring to Mission Yuva.
Under the initiative, the government plans to establish 1.35 lakh entrepreneurial units and generate employment opportunities for 4 lakh to 5 lakh youth, he said.
Dar said more than one lakh youth had applied under the programme so far, while over 29,000 had received financial support through banks.
More than 33,000 youth have been provided employment, while around 90,000 women have been provided employment opportunities through the Udyam Jagriti initiative, he said.
Dar said the government would continue working towards creating opportunities for youth, strengthening agriculture and horticulture, improving infrastructure and expanding healthcare and education facilities across Jammu and Kashmir.(KNS)
