SRINAGAR, MAR 06: Jammu and Kashmir has witnessed a significant increase in road, bridge and flyover construction over the last five years.
Bridges play a crucial role in enhancing road connectivity by ensuring accessibility, reducing distances, and minimizing travel time. Due to the unique topography of the Union Territory (UT) and the presence of numerous rivers and streams, the demand for constructing new bridges is substantial.
According to official figures, at least 338 bridges in the Union Territory are under construction with an approximate cost of Rs 1785 Crores.
Over the past five years, a total of 290 bridges have been successfully completed, amounting to an estimated expenditure of Rs 880 Crores. Enhancing road and bridge infrastructure is pivotal in enhancing connectivity, easing the transportation of goods and individuals, and promoting comprehensive economic development.
Jammu and Kashmir has demonstrated remarkable progress and goal achievement over the past three years through the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY). The Union Territory has consistently secured the 3rd position nationally in 2020-21 and 2021-22 for the road length constructed under this program.
“For improving rural connectivity, J&K Government is obtaining a loan from NABARD under the Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF) programme for construction of “rural roads” and “rural bridges” in J&K. Under RIDF tranches XXV-XXIX, a record number of 1057 road and bridge projects for an amount of Rs.4550 Cr have been sanctioned since 2019-20, which include 183 projects sanctioned during 2023-24 at a cost of Rs.913 Crore,” the figures reveal.
According to official figures, under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) programme, unconnected habitations with 250+ population in J&K as per the 2001 census are to be connected through all-weather roads. In J&K, 2140 rural habitations were found eligible to be connected under this scheme for which the Ministry of Rural Development, GoI has sanctioned 3453 projects (including 239 LSBs) under PMGSY-I & II for construction of 19049 Km road length at an estimated cost of Rs.12565 Cr. Moreover, 276 projects (including 65 LSBs) were sanctioned under PMGSY-III for upgradation of 1617 km length at an estimated cost of Rs.2093.00 Crores.
Potholes on the roads have been a major concern for the smooth flow of traffic, damages to vehicles and accidents, thus causing huge inconvenience to the general public. Taking cognizance of this, the UT Government in 2021-22 introduced the Pothole Free Roads Programme in a phased manner, wherein all major roads from State Headquarters to District Headquarters, Inter District roads, District Headquarters to Sub-Divisional/ Tehsil/ Block Headquarters and roads connecting National Highways are to be made pothole free.
PMDP was announced during 2015-16 having 15 Road Projects at an estimated cost of Rs. 29369.76 Crore. For the last three years, the project implementation has been on a speedy track.
PMDP Projects have many tunnels, fly-overs and by-passes which have now been tendered out and allotted. The execution of work has started.
There are 21 tunnels having a length of 69.3 km, 39 flyovers with a length of 47.4 km and 26 bypasses and 2 ring roads for both capital cities with a length of 160 km, which are under execution and are at various stages of completion.
