LG administration spending Rs 519 cr per month on building roads, infrastructure
Srinagar, Aug 16: Jammu and Kashmir is passing through the golden era of development which is evident by the fact that the LG Manoj Sinha-led administration is overseeing the execution of developmental projects worth a whopping Rs 1.5 lakh crore in the Union Territory.
Additionally, the LG administration is spending Rs 519 crore per month on building roads, macadmization, and construction of rural bridges in Jammu and Kashmir to fill the infrastructure and boost the economy.
The pace of execution of work as per officials has increased a lot in the last for years which is evident by the fact that spending on developmental works has also increased.
LG Sinha in his Independence Day address said that three years ago, I had emphasized that
on a new blueprint of infrastructural development at the grassroots level.
“Today, infrastructure projects worth Rs. 1.5 lakh crores are under execution. The construction of 15 road projects under PMDP, 21 new tunnels, 39 new flyovers, 26 bypasses and 2 ring roads will prove to be the new foundation of modern AatmNirbhar Jammu and Kashmir. We are spending Rs. 519 crores per month on roads, buildings, macadamization and construction of rural bridges,” he said.
Officials informed Morning Kashmir that the UT of Jammu and Kashmir has focused on transparency in financial management by way of the introduction of a host of reforms and initiatives in recent years which resulted in an increase in the completion of projects in a fiscal year manifold with 92,560 works completed in 2022-23 in comparison to 9,229 in 2018-19”, adding “Government of India’s unstinted support in accelerating the pace of development in Jammu & Kashmir has resulted in the transformation of the UT on all fronts”.
The Prime Minister’s Development Package (PMDP) was announced on November 7, 2015 by the Prime Minister for strengthening the socio-economic development of J&K. Out of 53 projects of the UT of J&K at a cost of Rs 58,477 crores, 32 projects have been completed/ substantially completed up to June 2023. “The pace of the projects has been accelerated post-August 2019”, the Minister of Home Affairs informed the Rajya Sabha.
Stating that connectivity to the valley has been subsequently improved by the opening of six road tunnels on NH-44 including 8.45 kilometres twin tube tunnel between Qazigund and Banihal thereby reducing average time from Jammu to Srinagar from 8-10 hours to 5-6 hours, the Minister said that this has reduced logistic cost of goods and services to the Valley. Moreover, under National Highway Development Programme, work on the upgradation of 5 expressways, ring roads for Jammu and Srinagar cities, 10 major and 11 other tunnels, 33 flyovers and bypasses to 18 major towns is in progress, he added.
“Out of 20,000 MW hydropower potential, J&K had been able to tap only 3,500 MW in 70 years but in last few years alone, projects for about 3,000 MW capacity have been revived and put on track”, the Minister said, adding Memorandum of Understanding was executed between NHPC and JKPDC on 3rd January 2021 in respect of the execution of Kirthai-II 930 MW Hydro Electric Project (HEP) through the Joint Venture Company CVPPPL and execution of Stage II of Uri-I 240 MW HEP, Dulhasti Stage-II 258 MW HEP and 1,856 MW Sawalakot HEP by NHPC on BOOT basis. It was informed that the Government of India has notified a New Central Sector Scheme for Industrial Development of Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir on 19.02.2021 with an outlay of Rs 28,400 crore to boost industrial development.
