Dr Jitendra lays e-foundation of Rs 1503 cr worth 110 PMGSY roads
‘Udhampur among country’s top districts in rural road projects’ Avtar Bhat JAMMU, Aug 29: Maintaining that Prime Minister, Narendra Modi accorded highest priority to hitherto neglected areas by earlier Governments in Kathua- Udhampur, Doda Parliamentary constituency during last 12 years...
‘Udhampur among country’s top districts in rural road projects’
Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, Aug 29: Maintaining that Prime Minister, Narendra Modi accorded highest priority to hitherto neglected areas by earlier Governments in Kathua- Udhampur, Doda Parliamentary constituency during last 12 years of his Government, Union Minister in PMO with independent charge of Ministries of Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, Dr Jitendra Singh on Saturday said this resulted in sustained expansion of road connectivity across some of the most remote and difficult hilly areas of the region of the constituency.
Speaking after laying the e-foundation stone of 110 road projects under PMGSY-IV, Batch-I of 2026-27, covering different parts of the Udhampur-Kathua-Doda-Kishtwar region here, he said that Udhampur has consistently figured among the country's top three districts in terms of PMGSY road projects, reflecting the continued priority accorded to rural connectivity in the constituency.
Dr Jitendra Singh said this constituency which is terrain and hilly the Modi Government's focus has been touching the every remote village with road network for ease of living. These areas remained constantly neglected for over five decades by successive Governments both in erstwhile State and at the Centre for vote bank consideration as the constituency was no body's priority.
Dr Jitendra Singh said working on the Mantra of Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas and Sabka Priyas, PM gave focus on developing the backward and neglected areas across the country without any political consideration.
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As per the project statement, the 110 roads together cover 598.455 km and carry a sanctioned cost of Rs 1,503.53 crore. The projects are spread across Kathua, Udhampur, Ramban, Doda and Kishtwar districts and are expected to benefit 46,972 people.
The Minister said that connectivity in these difficult hilly areas also carries an important security dimension. Some of the remote and challenging terrains have in the past posed difficulties from the security perspective and have also been vulnerable to movement by the terrorists. Improved road connectivity will facilitate easier and faster movement of security forces into such areas and strengthen the implementation of anti-militancy and counter-terror operations, while simultaneously bringing development closer to the people living there.
The Union Minister said that the scale of the latest PMGSY intervention demonstrates the continued commitment of the Government to taking all-weather road connectivity to the last mile and to villages and habitations located in difficult and remote hilly terrain. He said that the new roads would further transform rural mobility and contribute significantly to ease of living and ease of travel for people living in far-flung areas.
Dr. Jitendra Singh said that the sustained expansion of PMGSY road connectivity is changing the landscape of rural mobility in the hilly areas, taking all-weather connectivity to villages and habitations that were earlier difficult to access. He said that the road network being created under PMGSY is directly contributing to ease of living and ease of travel, while opening up new opportunities for people living in the remotest parts of the constituency.
The Minister said that senior citizens and school-going children were among those who faced the greatest difficulties earlier, particularly during the rainy season when poor road conditions often made travel difficult and, at times, prevented people from reaching their workplaces, schools and other essential destinations. The expansion of the road network is now helping remove this long-standing difficulty and bringing essential services and opportunities closer to rural communities.
Dr Jitendra Singh said that women in the remotest villages are also experiencing the benefits of the new road connectivity, as better roads provide easier access to schools, healthcare, markets, workplaces and other essential facilities. The expansion of the road network into previously difficult-to-reach villages, he said, is creating a new mobility network for women and families living in the hilly terrain, with direct benefits for their everyday lives.
Giving the district-wise breakup of the projects, Dr. Jitendra Singh said that Kathua accounts for 24 road projects covering 128.925 km, with a sanctioned cost of approximately Rs 307.12 crore. Udhampur accounts for 44 projects covering 235.040 km, with a sanctioned cost of approximately Rs 554.90 crore. Ramban has 13 projects covering 60.360 km, with a sanctioned cost of approximately Rs 154.97 crore, while Doda accounts for 13 projects covering 90.180 km, with a sanctioned cost of approximately Rs 260.66 crore. Kishtwar has 16 projects covering 83.950 km, with a sanctioned cost of approximately Rs224.88 crore.
Deputy Chief Minister J&K, Surinder Choudhary, in his address, said that Jammu & Kashmir is firmly on the path of development and expressed satisfaction for contributing to the ongoing transformation. He said that the concerns and issues raised by the people would be addressed sufficiently and assured that the Government of J&K remains committed to ensuring that development reaches every part of the Union Territory.
The Dy CM said that the contractors engaged in the execution of the road projects are required to perform their work as per prescribed standards and made it clear that there would be no compromise on the quality of construction.
Among the MLAs present on the occasion were Pawan Kumar Gupta, Balwant Singh Mankotia, Rajiv Jasrotia, Sajad Shaheen, Dr. Sunil Bharadwaj, Arjun Singh Raju, Pyare Lal Sharma, Ranbir Singh Pathania, Darshan Kumar and Satish Kumar Sharma. MLA Shakti Parihar joined the event virtually while LoP Sunil Sharma addressed the audience through a video message sent by him.
The legislators raised various issues and concerns relating to their respective areas, particularly those concerning forest clearances and defaults by contractors.
Dr. Jitendra Singh and Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary assured the legislators that the issues and concerns raised by them would be taken up for swift addressal.
