SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir has been sanctioned 61 National Highway projects covering 975 kilometres at an estimated cost of Rs 28,747 crore over the last five years, with 39 of these projects currently under construction, the Union Government informed the Lok Sabha on Thursday.
Data tabled by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways shows that the projects were sanctioned or awarded during the last five years as part of the national highway expansion programme across States and Union Territories.
Of the total works, 39 are presently under execution in the Union Territory.
On land acquisition, the government said 1,541 hectares are required for these projects in Jammu and Kashmir. Of this, 1,515 hectares have already been acquired. Compensation amounting to Rs 5,700 crore has been paid to affected landowners, while seven cases remain pending due to disputes or litigation.
Financial data shared in Parliament indicates that Jammu and Kashmir was allocated Rs 37,978 crore for development and maintenance of National Highways over the last five financial years. Against this, an expenditure of Rs 37,851 crore has been incurred.
At the national level, the Ministry said hundreds of highway projects have been sanctioned in the same period, with a large number under construction and several targeted for completion by 2026-27.
The information was provided in a written reply by Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Jairam Gadkari.
