New Delhi, Aug 21: The Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has revealed significant developments in highway construction and upgradation projects across Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh over the last four years.
According to the response given by Union Minister Nitin Jairam Gadkari to a question raised by Dr M. K. Vishnu Prasad, both Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh have seen consistent investment in road infrastructure, albeit with varying project volumes and costs.
The minister said that in Jammu & Kashmir, a total of 43 highway development and upgradation projects were approved between 2021-22 and 2024-25, covering approximately 653 kilometres of road length at a cumulative cost of over Rs 27,800 crore. In 2021-22 alone, 15 projects covering 197 km were sanctioned at a significant investment of Rs 14,235 crore.
The following year, 2022-23, saw an additional 15 projects approved, adding 248 km of NH length with a total allocation of Rs 9,538 crore. The pace of approvals slowed slightly in 2023-24, with 8 projects covering 179 km and costing Rs 2,774 crore. In the current financial year 2024-25, up to August, 5 more projects have been cleared, covering 29 km with an allocation of Rs 1,262 crore.
The synergy with the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan (NMP) is also evident in these phased and prioritised developments, Gadkari said.
In Ladakh, the data reflects a more modest pace, possibly due to its challenging terrain, limited working seasons, and unique ecological considerations. In the last four years, only two NH projects were approved in the Union Territory.
The first was in 2021-22, involving 27 kilometres of highway at a cost of Rs 426 crore. After a gap in 2022-23 and 2023-24, another project was cleared in 2024-25, adding 11 km at a cost of Rs 29 crore.
While the volume of work in Ladakh is relatively limited, the sanctioned projects are significant given the strategic and geographic sensitivity of the region. Improved highways in Ladakh are expected to enhance mobility for both civilians and defence personnel, while also facilitating better access to remote areas.
The Union Minister said that NH development is a continuous process, and projects are taken up based on traffic density, road condition, connectivity needs, and strategic priorities aligned with national development goals.
As per the Ministry’s statement, pending proposals are being reviewed and prioritised in coordination with the PM Gati Shakti framework. (KNO)
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