SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo on Wednesday reviewed the progress of highway, tunnel, flyover, bridge and ring-road projects worth nearly Rs 40,000 crore currently under execution across the Union Territory and directed authorities to remove bottlenecks and ensure their time-bound completion.
The review covered projects being executed by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) and the Public Works (R&B) Department.
According to the administration, 87 connectivity projects with an estimated value of Rs 1,19,736 crore are currently part of the overall portfolio. Of these, 44 projects worth Rs 39,711 crore are under execution, while 11 sanctioned projects involving Rs 9,187 crore are awaiting commencement. Another 32 projects worth Rs 70,839 crore are at the detailed project report (DPR) or in-principle stage.
Dulloo sought updates on the physical progress and expected completion dates of individual projects and asked divisional and district administrations to coordinate closely with executing agencies to resolve field-level issues.
He also directed the agencies to maintain road surfaces on highways under construction, particularly stretches being used by commuters, and address damaged roads and other deficiencies contributing to traffic congestion and inconvenience.
The meeting reviewed several major NHAI projects, including the Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway, Ramban-Banihal tunnel packages, Jammu Ring Road, Chenani-Patnitop connectivity and Srinagar Ring Road.
The five packages of the Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway reviewed at the meeting cover about 142 km at a total cost of Rs 11,546 crore. The Raya Morh-Samba-Kunjwani/Jammu Airport package has achieved more than 96 per cent physical progress, while the Hiranagar package has crossed 91 per cent.
The Srinagar Ring Road, comprising Phases I, II and IIA, covers around 78.8 km and has a combined project cost of Rs 4,786 crore.
Among the projects being handled by Project Beacon and SAMPARK, the NH-501 Khanabal-Pahalgam-Chandanwari corridor was reviewed. The 141-km project has a sanctioned cost of Rs 4,030.57 crore. Its alignment has been finalised up to the Pahalgam bypass, while environmental assessment and related formalities are under way.
The meeting also reviewed tunnel projects sanctioned by BRO during 2025-26, including the Pir Ki Gali Tunnel on NH-701A and the Sadhna Tunnel, involving a combined investment of around Rs 7,160 crore.
The Machil, Gurez and Keran tunnels, approved in principle under the OTCA budget, are currently at the consultant-engagement stage.
Major NHIDCL projects, including the Zojila Tunnel, Khellani Tunnel, Khellani-Khanabal packages and Jammu-Akhnoor packages, were also reviewed. The projects have recorded an average quarterly physical progress gain of 2.18 per cent.
The Public Works (R&B) Department’s urban connectivity projects, including the Parimpora-Shalteng Flyover, vehicle underpasses at Moominabad and Nowgam, and rehabilitation of the old Padshahi Bagh and Lasjan bridges, were also discussed.
The meeting was informed that road safety works along the 55.05-km Pir Panjal stretch of NH-144 have been completed, achieving 100 per cent physical progress against a sanctioned cost of Rs 18 crore.
Dulloo directed the agencies to complete DPR preparation, technical scrutiny, land-related requirements and statutory clearances within stipulated timelines for projects at the planning stage.
He said the connectivity projects would improve the movement of people and goods and provide better access to tourism and economically important areas across J&K.
