Highlights 12-year infrastructure overhaul
JAMMU: Union Minister of State for Road Transport & Highways Ajay Tamta concluded a two-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday, with an extensive inspection of key national highway projects, followed by a high-level review meeting at the Jammu Convention Centre on Monday.
During his visit, MoS Tamtatraveled the entire Srinagar–Jammu NH-44 corridor, inspecting the Qazigund–Banihal and Chenani–Nashri tunnels, landslide-prone Ramban–Banihal stretch, and ongoing Srinagar and Jammu Ring Roads built by NHAI. He also assessed the Chenani–Sudhmahadev stretch and the proposed Sudhmahadev–Dranga tunnel under NHIDCL. Senior officials from NHAI, NHIDCL, BRO, PWD, and MoRTH accompanied him during field visits.
The review was attended by MPs Jugal Kishore Sharma and Sat Pal Sharma, MLAs, and senior highway agency officials. They briefed the Minister on progress of ongoing and upcoming projects across J&K, funded by MoRTH.
Tamta highlighted the transformative change since 2014, noting that Jammu and Kashmir’s road infrastructure had been limited amid tough terrain, landslides, and poor all-weather connectivity. Since then, nearly ₹1.35 lakh crore has been invested, with 700 km completed at a cost of ₹20,000 crore, 2,300 km under construction worth ₹50,000 crore, and DPRs prepared for another 707 km valued at ₹65,000 crore.
He emphasized the focus on tunnel construction, which has grown from just five tunnels pre-2014 to 25 in the Jammu–Srinagar corridor, including the strategic Zojila Tunnel and others like Sungal, Bhimber Gali, Sudhmahadev, Sadhna Pass, and Peer Ki Gali, ensuring year-round connectivity.
The ₹16,000-crore Jammu–Udhampur–Srinagar four-lane project is 95% complete, reducing travel time from nine to four hours and cutting 70 km. Other major projects include four high-speed corridors worth ₹50,000 crore, such as Jammu–Udhampur–Srinagar and Srinagar–Baramulla–Uri, improving access to Kashmir, Chenab Valley, and border areas.
The 670 km Delhi–Katra Greenfield Expressway, costing ₹41,000 crore, will reduce Delhi–Katra distance by 58 km, with 143 km of it expected to be completed by August 2027.
Urban mobility is being enhanced through ring roads, with Srinagar’s 104 km ring road and Jammu’s 58 km ring road nearing completion. DPRs for 707 km of new highways, including Katra–Srinagar High-Speed Corridor and other routes, are underway.
Tourism infrastructure is also prioritized. DPRs are being prepared for 60 km of Amarnath Yatra roads, and the ₹880-crore Katra Intermodal Station will integrate rail, road, and helipad services. Additionally, 54 ropeway proposals worth ₹30,000 crore are in progress, with eight projects worth ₹16,000 crore slated for initial development at sites like Shri Amarnath Ji Cave and Thajiwas Glacier.
Tamta praised agency efforts, urging timely completion with quality and safety. He stated that the infrastructure development over the last 12 years has transformed Jammu and Kashmir from difficult terrain to a modern, high-speed, all-weather connectivity hub, boosting tourism, pilgrimage, industry, and socio-economic growth.