It is raining cash for the infrastructure development in strife-torn Jammu and Kashmir.
Mehbooba Mufti government is pumping huge money to construct state of the art roads, bridges, tunnels and develop other infrastructure to improve connectivity in the landlocked state.
Jammu and Kashmir Minister for Public Works, Naeem Akhtar said an allocation of Rs 42000 crore has been earmarked under the Prime Minister’s Development Package (PMDP) for construction of national highways and tunnels in the State.
"Prestigious Chennai-Nashri tunnel has been operationalized and 84 km long Mughal road has also been completed that connects Bufliaz in Jammu province to Shopian in Kashmir province", he said.
The government of India has declared Kargil-Zanskar road, Srinagar-Shopian-Qazigund road and Jammu-Akhnoor-Poonch road as National Highways - NH 301, NH 444 and NH 144 ‑ respectively.
Under PM’s package, two ring road projects have been approved for the state at the cumulative cost of Rs 4,000 crore, one in Srinagar at the cost of Rs 2,201 crore and other in Jammu at the cost of Rs 2,097 crore.
"156 new projects costing Rs 429.14 crore have been recommended for funding under NABARD RIDF XXIII and 109 schemes are targeted to be completed in 2018-19”, he said
Under World Bank assistance Rs 580 crore have been allocated for Jhelum Tawi Flood Recovery project.
Jammu and Kashmir government has spent Rs 1,220 crore on restoring roads, bridges damaged in 2014 floods
Nearly 511 bridges are under construction, 18 bridges have been completed in current year while as 26 bridges are expected to be completed during next fiscal
"About 6000 km road length and 600 bridges were damaged in 2014 floods. The government launched a massive programme to improve riding surface of roads", Naeem said
