Gadkari Flags ₹27,800 Crore Boost for J&K Highways

The Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has unveiled major strides in enhancing road connectivity across Jammu & Kashmir over the past four years. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari highlighted that between 2021–22 and 2024–25, 43 highway development and upgradation projects were approved, spanning approximately 653 km and totaling over ₹27,800 crore.

In 2021–22 alone, 15 projects covering 197 km were sanctioned with an allocation of ₹14,235 crore. The following fiscal year saw a similar volume, 15 projects for 248 km, at a cost of ₹9,538 crore. The pace slowed in 2023–24, with 8 projects encompassing 179 km at ₹2,774 crore. As of August 2024–25, an additional 5 projects covering 29 km have been cleared for ₹1,262 crore.

Gadkari emphasized the integration of these developments with the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan, ensuring a phased, strategic approach prioritizing connectivity, traffic density and national development goals.He noted that highway development remains a continuous process, with pending proposals being actively reviewed under the Gati Shakti framework to further strengthen infrastructure across the region.