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Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. (PTI)
In a major infrastructure push, the Centre has sanctioned 19 key projects for Jammu and Kashmir, including two tunnels, flyovers and roads. The projects are worth a total Rs 10,637 crore.
This was announced by J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Lt Governor Manoj Sinha.
In a post on X, Abdullah said, “In a major achievement, my government has got Rs 10,600 crore worth of road and tunnel projects approved by the Union government. I’m grateful to Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji and Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari ji for their continued support as we try to steer J&K on a path of progress, development and connectivity.”
The key projects include two tunnels at Pir Ki Gali and Sadhna Pass. The nine-kilometre Pir ki Gali tunnel, which is to be constructed at a cost of Rs 3,830 crore, will provide all-weather connectivity between Kashmir and the Pir Panjal region of Jammu through the historic Mughal Road. Until now, winters have seen the road close due to snowfall and avalanches.
The other key tunnel, to be constructed at a cost of Rs 3,330 crore, is aimed at providing all-weather connectivity between Kashmir and the Karnah region on the Line of Control (LoC) in the frontier district of Kupwara. The seven-kilometre tunnel would also reduce travel time.
In addition to the two tunnels, the government has also sanctioned a 28-kilometre stretch of the Zaznai-Shopian road. The road is to be constructed at a cost of Rs 853 crore.
The Centre has also sanctioned three flyovers/elevated corridors in the Valley. This includes a Rs 700-crore four-lane flyover from Srinagar’s Lal Chowk to Qamarwari (7 km), a four-lane flyover at Panthachowk in Srinagar (1 km) that is expected to cost of Rs 105 crore, and a 2-km flyover at Magam on the Srinagar-Gulmarg road that would cost Rs 445 crore.
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Another major infrastructure project is the Trehgam-Chamkote road in Kupwara, to be developed at a cost of Rs 966 crore.
Lt Governor Manoj Sinha was also quick to thank the Prime Minister for sanctioning the projects.
“Extremely grateful to Hon’ble PM Shri Narendra Modi ji and Hon’ble Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Shri Nitin Gadkari Ji for giving approval to 19 mega road and tunnel projects for J&K UT worth Rs 10,637 crore,” Sinha said.
Bashaarat Masood is a Special Correspondent with The Indian Express. He has been covering Jammu and Kashmir, especially the conflict-ridden Kashmir valley, for two decades. Bashaarat joined The Indian Express after completing his Masters in Mass Communication and Journalism from the University in Kashmir. He has been writing on politics, conflict and development. Bashaarat was awarded with the Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Awards in 2012 for his stories on the Pathribal fake encounter. ... Read More
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