Abrar Nabi
Srinagar, Feb 07 : The Jammu and Kashmir government on Saturday said 19 new National Highway projects with an estimated cost of Rs 10,637 crore have been sanctioned for 2025–26 to strengthen road connectivity and ease traffic congestion across the Union Territory.
The government said the sanctioned projects include major infrastructure works such as the Pir Ki Gali Tunnel, Sadhna Tunnel, Lal Chowk–Parimpora Flyover and the Magam Flyover, aimed at improving mobility and decongesting key urban centres.
Sharing details of rural road development, the government said that under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), 2,132 habitations were connected through 19,518 kilometres of roads during 2024–25, significantly improving all-weather rural connectivity.
It said a further 2,500 unconnected rural habitations have been sanctioned under Phase-IV of PMGSY. Under Phase-I, 316 road projects covering a length of 1,781 kilometres, with an estimated cost of Rs 4,224.37 crore, have been approved by the Government of India and are expected to connect 429 habitations.
“These initiatives are aimed at fulfilling the objective of providing road connectivity to every village in the Union Territory,” the government said.
Under the Central Road and Infrastructure Fund (CRIF), the government said 83 projects have been completed since 2020–21 at an expenditure of Rs 1,376 crore, including 22 projects completed during 2024–25.
The government further said that 2,387 kilometres of roads were completed under NABARD-approved projects between 2020–21 and 2024–25 to strengthen rural connectivity.
It said a total of 320 bridges have been completed since 2020–21, improving access across rivers and difficult terrain.
To ensure uninterrupted connectivity during winters, the government said around 1,000 machines have been deployed across various agencies for snow clearance.
The government also said Kashmir has been connected with the rest of the country through railways, marking a new phase of development, economic growth and improved regional integration.(KNS).
