SRINAGAR: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday chaired a high-level meeting to review the status of major infrastructure projects across Jammu and Kashmir, with a focus on national highways, expressways and tunnel works. Officials briefed him on over a dozen highway corridors and an expressway spanning 1,800 kilometres currently under various stages of construction by NHAI, NHIDCL, BRO and the Public Works Department.
Secretary, Public Works (R&B), Bhupinder Kumar, presented updates on strategically important routes including the Jammu–Srinagar National Highway (NH-44), Jammu–Rajouri–Poonch Highway (NH-144A), and the Delhi–Amritsar–Katra Expressway (NE-5). He also highlighted 12 major tunnel projects such as Zoji La, Z-Morh and Panthal–Magarkote, many nearing completion.
The meeting, attended by top officials including Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, Advisor Nasir Aslam Wani and senior representatives from key infrastructure agencies, focused on inter-departmental coordination, clearance bottlenecks, and public rehabilitation issues.
Omar Abdullah stressed removing procedural delays, improving coordination between district administrations and executing agencies, and ensuring fair rehabilitation for displaced residents. He flagged delays in forest clearances, land acquisition and utility shifting as primary causes for timeline setbacks.
Advisor Nasir Aslam Wani flagged major traffic bottlenecks and called for integrating long-term solutions into ongoing highway designs. Commissioner Secretary, Industries and Commerce, Vikramjit Singh highlighted the availability of construction material and pending mining permissions.
The Chief Minister directed all departments to expedite time-bound approvals and maintain regular coordination with security agencies in sensitive zones. “These projects are critical not only for development but also for strategic and economic integration. Delays are unacceptable,” he said.
He reaffirmed the government’s focus on quality and timely execution, and urged departments to treat these projects as top priority.
