Finance
In a massive infrastructure drive, the Centre has approved 19 significant projects in Jammu and Kashmir, including two tunnels, flyovers, and roads. The projects are worth a total of Rs 10,637 crore.
This was announced by J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha.
In a post on X, Abdullah said, “In a major achievement, my government has got Rs 10,600 crore worth of road and tunnel projects approved by the Union government. I’m grateful to Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji and Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari ji for their continued support as we try to steer J&K on a path of progress, development and connectivity.”
The main projects are two tunnels at Pir Ki Gali and Sadhna Pass. The nine-kilometer Pir ki Gali tunnel, estimated to cost Rs 3,830 crore, will provide all-weather connection between Kashmir and the Pir Panjal region of Jammu via the historic Mughal Road. The road has previously been closed throughout the winter owing to snowfall and avalanches.
The other significant tunnel, estimated to cost Rs 3,330 crore, will provide all-weather communication between Kashmir and the Karnah region on the Line of Control (LoC) in Kupwara’s frontier district. The seven-kilometre tunnel would also shorten travel times.
In addition to the two tunnels, the government has approved a 28-kilometre length of the Zaznai-Shopian route. The construction of the road will cost Rs 853 crore.
The Centre has also approved three flyovers and elevated corridors in the Valley. This includes a Rs 700-crore four-lane flyover from Srinagar’s Lal Chowk to Qamarwari (7 km), a four-lane flyover at Panthachowk in Srinagar (1 km) that is estimated to cost Rs 105 crore, and a 2-km flyover at Magam on the Srinagar-Gulmarg route that would cost Rs 445 crore.
Another big infrastructure project is the Trehgam-Chamkote road in Kupwara, which would cost Rs 966 crore.
“Extremely grateful to Hon’ble PM Shri Narendra Modi ji and Hon’ble Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Shri Nitin Gadkari Ji for giving approval to 19 mega road and tunnel projects for J&K UT worth Rs 10,637 crore,” Sinha said.
Source: IE
