SRINAGAR: The Government has said that it is examining proposals related to the long-pending Bandipora–Lolab road and the four-laning of the Sangrama–Chowkibal corridor via Sopore and Handwara, but no specific project has yet been approved under any central highway scheme. The clarification was issued in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha, where the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways outlined the status of multiple road connectivity demands from Jammu and Kashmir.
Responding to a question on whether the Bandipora–Lolab link has moved forward, the Ministry stated that there is currently no direct National Highway between the two regions. Bandipora and Lolab are presently connected through a combination of State roads and a section of National Highway-701 that links Handwara with Kupwara, followed by a State road to Lolab. The Ministry has said that proposals from Jammu and Kashmir for declaration or upgradation of such roads as National Highways are assessed periodically, based on connectivity needs, traffic density, and alignment with the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan.
On the parallel demand for upgrading the Sangrama–Sopore–Handwara–Chowkibal stretch, the Government has said that the existing connectivity includes a State road between Sangrama and Handwara and NH-701 between Handwara and Chowkibal. The Ministry has shared the latest status of works on NH-701, which runs from Baramulla to Tangdhar. According to the annexure, the Baramulla–Handwara section (Package 1) is currently under upgradation to two lanes with paved shoulders and has achieved 25.40 per cent physical progress. The Handwara–Kupwara, Kupwara–Trehgam, and Trehgam–Chowkibal sections are part of Package 2 and have been included in the Annual Plan for 2025-26. The Chowkibal–Tangdhar section remains under the broader development plan for NH-701.
Regarding central funding and scheme-based approvals, the Government has said that the proposal for Bandipora–Lolab and other link roads has been examined under mechanisms such as the Central Road and Infrastructure Fund (CRIF). However, approvals are contingent on the Bank of Sanction (BOS), which reflects already sanctioned liabilities. As of 30 November 2025, Jammu and Kashmir has a BOS of Rs 1,370.37 crore against a current-year accrual of Rs 118.74 crore, a factor the Ministry has said directly influences the clearance of new proposals.
On the question of whether the Mughal Road will be declared an all-weather National Highway, the Government has said that it has already declared the Narbal–Mangam–Dodhpathri–Yousmarg–Pakherpora–Kellar–Shopian–Bafliaz–Surankote corridor as NH-701A in February 2024. Routine and periodic maintenance of this newly declared highway is being carried out by the Border Roads Organisation with funds from the Ministry. Towns such as Poonch and Rajouri remain connected through NH-144A, but the Ministry has not committed to any specific timeline for converting Mughal Road into an all-weather, high-capacity corridor.
The Government reiterated that development and maintenance of National Highways is a continuous process and that feasibility studies and Detailed Project Reports guide final decisions. Project implementation, it has said, depends on multiple variables, including clearances, traffic requirements, terrain, and the National Master Plan’s priorities.
