Jammu: Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways Ajay Tamta on Tuesday said road and transport infrastructure in Jammu and Kashmir has witnessed a major boost since 2014, with projects worth nearly Rs 1.35 lakh crore taken up to strengthen connectivity across the Union Territory.
He said the massive investment marks a significant departure from the pre-2014 period, when highway development in J&K was constrained by difficult terrain, frequent landslides and inadequate all-weather connectivity.
Tamta conducted an extensive inspection of key national highway projects, travelling the entire Srinagar-Jammu section of NH44 on Monday.
Highlighting the shift since 2014, Tamta said J&K has undergone an “unprecedented transformation” in road and transport infrastructure.
“Before 2014, highway development in the region was limited, with difficult terrain, frequent landslides and poor all-weather connectivity. Since then, works worth nearly Rs 1.35 lakh crore have been taken up.
“Of this, 700 km worth Rs 20,000 crore have been completed, 2,300 km worth Rs 50,000 crore are under construction and Detailed Project Reports for another 707 km worth Rs 65,000 crore are being prepared,” the minister said.
He said tunnel construction has been a major focus and only five tunnels existed in J&K before 2014.
“Today, the Jammu–Srinagar corridor alone has 25 tunnels with 20 completed and five under construction,” he added, adding strategic projects such as the Zojila Tunnel, Digdol–Khooni Nallah, Sungal, Bhimber Gali, Sinthan Pass, Sudhmahadev, Sadhna Pass, Peer Ki Gali and the parallel Chenani–Nashri alignment are expected to ensure reliable, year-round connectivity.
The MoS appreciated the work of all agencies and directed the officials to complete the projects within stipulated timelines while maintaining quality, safety and public convenience.
He said the infrastructure push of the last 12 years has moved Jammu and Kashmir from “difficult and disrupted connectivity to modern, all-weather, high-speed and integrated transport.”
“The projects will boost tourism, pilgrimage, industry, defence logistics and overall socio-economic growth in the Union Territory,” the minister said.
As part of BJP’s outreach marking 12 years of the Narendra Modi government, the party organised a “Pragati Path Yatra” and “Sankalp Sammelan” in Jammu, highlighting what it described as the journey of New India built on trust, development and public welfare.
Ajay Tamta, J&K BJP President and Rajya Sabha MP Sat Sharma, and MP Jugal Kishore Sharma led the “Pragati Path Yatra” at IIM Jammu. The programme witnessed participation from BJP Vice Presidents Priya Sethi and Rakesh Mahajan, MLAs Yudhvir Sethi and Devyani Rana, and District President Rajesh Gupta.
During the visit, the leaders toured the IIM Jammu campus, interacted with the Director, visited the library and reviewed institutional infrastructure. They appreciated the institute’s role in promoting excellence in higher education and nurturing future leadership.
Later, the leaders addressed the “Sankalp Sammelan” at Jammu Club in the presence of senior BJP functionaries including General Secretary (Organisation) Ashok Koul, General Secretaries Baldev Singh Billawaria and Gopal Mahajan, MLAs Arvind Gupta, Yudhvir Sethi and Devyani Rana, along with party workers.
Speaking at the event, Tamta said the last twelve years had been marked by decisive leadership, rapid infrastructure expansion and people-centric governance. He said development initiatives have focused on reaching the last person in the queue while strengthening public trust through transparency and implementation.
Sat Sharma said Jammu and Kashmir has entered a new phase of development with improved connectivity, educational opportunities and welfare initiatives benefiting different sections of society. He urged party workers to communicate government achievements at the grassroots level.
Jugal Kishore Sharma reiterated the BJP’s commitment to the vision of a “Viksit Bharat” and called upon party workers to continue serving people with renewed commitment.
Tamta said the infrastructure expansion over the last twelve years has moved Jammu and Kashmir from difficult and disrupted connectivity to modern, integrated and all-weather transport systems that are expected to boost tourism, pilgrimage, industry, defence logistics and overall socio-economic growth in the Union Territory.
