The Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions has announced a major road construction initiative in Jammu and Kashmir. Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State for Science and Technology and PMO, laid the foundation stone for 110 road projects under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY-IV) scheme. These projects will benefit districts across the Udhampur-Kathua-Doda-Kishtwar region.
The Road Projects: Scale and Details
The 110 road projects will span 598.455 kilometers across five districts in Jammu and Kashmir. The total sanctioned cost for these projects is ₹1,503.53 crore. The initiative is expected to improve connectivity for 46,972 people living in remote and difficult hilly terrain.
The project breakdown by district is:
- Kathua: 24 projects covering 128.925 km, costing approximately ₹307.12 crore
- Udhampur: 44 projects covering 235.040 km, costing approximately ₹554.90 crore
- Ramban: 13 projects covering 60.360 km, costing approximately ₹154.97 crore
- Doda: 13 projects covering 90.180 km, costing approximately ₹260.66 crore
- Kishtwar: 16 projects covering 83.950 km, costing approximately ₹224.88 crore
A notable aspect of these road projects is the incorporation of waste plastics in construction work across several road packages. This combines the aim of improving connectivity with more sustainable construction methods.
What This Means for You
If you live in remote villages across the Udhampur-Kathua-Doda-Kishtwar region, these new roads will provide all-weather connectivity to your settlement. This will make it easier to reach schools, healthcare facilities, markets and workplaces, particularly during monsoon season when travel currently becomes difficult. Women, school children and elderly citizens will benefit most from reduced travel times and improved access to essential services. The projects also carry security implications, as improved roads will enable faster movement of security forces into areas that have previously been difficult to reach.