Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 19: Under key rural development schemes including the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) and Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana–Gramin (PMAY-G), Jammu and Kashmir has witnessed large-scale infrastructure and housing development over the past five years, with more than 8,600 kilometres of rural roads and over 3.20 lakh houses completed across the Union Territory.
Replying to an unstarred question of Member Parliament Gulam Ali Khatana in the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Rural Development Shri Kamlesh Paswan said that under various verticals of the PMGSY, as many as 1,474 roads measuring 8,640 km and 140 bridges have been completed in J&K between 2020–21 and 2024–25. During the same period, 223 roads (1,752.118 km) and 66 bridges were also sanctioned, significantly boosting all-weather connectivity in rural and remote areas.
On the housing front, the Minister said J&K has recorded major progress under PMAY-G). Against a target of 3,36,498 houses allocated to the UT, 3,34,706 houses have been sanctioned and 3,20,417 houses completed, bringing thousands of rural families closer to the goal of safe and permanent housing with basic amenities.
The House was also informed about the implementation of the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) in the UT. Under the social security scheme meant for the most vulnerable sections living below the poverty line, J&K has a beneficiary ceiling of 1,50,937 persons.
The programme provides monthly pensions ranging from Rs 200 to Rs 500 to eligible elderly persons, widows and divyangjans, while a one-time assistance of Rs 20,000 is given to families on the death of a breadwinner. Funds are released by the Centre based on digitized beneficiary data and disbursed by the UT administration at district and panchayat levels.
Regarding timelines, the Government said the completion period for PMGSY-I (except Chhattisgarh) ended in March 2025, while the deadline for pending works under PMGSY-I, PMGSY-II, RCPLWEA and PMGSY-III has been extended up to March 2026. Delays in certain road projects in J&K were attributed to land acquisition disputes, court cases, forest clearance requirements, compensation and utility-shifting issues, contractual problems, and the limited working season in snow-bound areas.
The Centre maintained that PMAY-G is tracked digitally up to the Gram Panchayat level, ensuring transparency and close monitoring of rural development initiatives in J&K.
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