JAMMU: Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary has announced that the government aims to blacktop 4,000 kilometres of roads across Jammu and Kashmir in 2025-26 under various schemes, significantly improving travel conditions. Speaking in the assembly on March 15 while winding up the debate on the demand for grants of his ministries, he said that road construction and maintenance remain top priorities for the administration, alongside efforts to enhance efficiency, transparency, and quality in infrastructure projects.
Choudhary acknowledged that winter snow clearance remains a major challenge in the region, but credited the Mechanical and Hospital Directorate and the Public Works Department for ensuring that roads remain open during harsh weather conditions. He said their efforts deserved appreciation and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strengthening winter preparedness.
Beyond construction, the department has introduced several reforms, including an Online Management and Payment System for real-time project monitoring and direct contractor payments. He said the J&K PWD Manual 2021 had been updated for the first time in several decades to align with modern engineering practices, while the Road Maintenance Policy 2021 ensures timely upkeep to prevent premature deterioration of roads. A Two-Tier Quality Control Mechanism has been introduced, with third-party inspections now mandatory for all major projects. The government is also enforcing a macadamization and defect liability framework that makes contractors accountable for maintaining roads for a specific period after construction.
Providing details of funding sources, he said that road and bridge development in Jammu and Kashmir is supported by Centrally Sponsored Schemes such as PMGSY and CRIF, NABARD loan assistance, and UT Sector Funding. Under PMGSY, which was launched in 2001, 2,132 out of 2,140 identified villages have been connected, with 17,585 kilometres of roads laid and 210 bridges constructed at an investment of Rs 10,939 crore. The remaining work will be completed by 2025-26. He said PMGSY Phases 2 and 3 have already resulted in the upgradation of 1,927 kilometres of roads and the construction of nine bridges, while the remaining 505 kilometres of roads and 64 bridges will be completed soon.
He announced that the Government of India has approved PMGSY-4 (2024-29), which will connect habitations with a population of over 250 as per the 2011 Census, with special provisions for tribal-majority villages and Aspirational Districts. A survey using advanced technology has identified 2,508 road alignments, and the government is actively preparing Detailed Project Reports for over 1,000 new projects in 2025-26. However, he acknowledged that land compensation remains a major challenge and urged MLAs to cooperate in resolving these issues.
Under the CRIF scheme, 294 projects worth Rs 4,337 crore have been sanctioned by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, of which 194 have been completed, including crucial road links like Koteranka-Khawas Road, Magam-Beeru Road, and Khanabal-Pahalgam Road. Several important bridges are also under construction, including a 2,000-metre bridge over the River Chenab at Indri Pattan Pargwal, a 270-metre bridge at Ramban, and a 445-metre bridge over the River Ujh at Jothana. However, he pointed out that due to limited funding under CRIF, no fresh projects have been proposed since 2018-19, and the focus remains on completing ongoing projects.
He described NABARD as an essential funding source for rural road and bridge construction. Currently, 1,098 projects have been sanctioned under NABARD, and 213 projects have been completed in 2024-25, marking the highest-ever achievement for the department in a single year. He praised engineers for their tireless work and urged them to continue delivering results.
On macadamization and resurfacing, he said the government has already blacktopped 3,251 kilometres of roads in 2024-25, including 1,610 kilometres in cities and towns, with a final target of 4,000 kilometres. He also highlighted the construction of 153 bridges for Rs 569 crore, of which 83 have been completed, including the Gundbal Foot Bridge in Srinagar, Akhal Bridge in Kangan, and Najwal Samba Bridge. Several others, including the Qamarwari Bridge in Srinagar, are nearing completion.
He said that the government’s vision is to build a safe, sustainable, and future-ready road network that ensures every rupee spent delivers maximum value. He added that the involvement of MLAs and local stakeholders remains critical in prioritising projects and ensuring their smooth implementation. Road safety, he said, remains at the heart of these initiatives, with better infrastructure, improved enforcement, and awareness programmes aimed at protecting lives
