Three years have passed since the proposal for the four-laning of the Samba-Mansar-Udhampur (SMU) road was submitted under the Bharatmala Pariyojana Phase-II, and yet, it remains buried under files awaiting approval from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. The delay is particularly concerning given the immense strategic and logistical importance of this route, especially in light of the ongoing widening and flyover works on the Lakhanpur-Jammu National Highway. At present, the condition of this main stretch is severely strained due to continuous construction activities and traffic snarls. Flyover and widening work has not only disrupted regular traffic flow but has also compounded travel time for both commuters and freight carriers. In this context, the Samba-Mansar-Udhampur road emerges as the most viable and urgent alternative to decongest Jammu City and streamline vehicular movement towards Kashmir, Doda, Kishtwar, and beyond. During the fruit harvesting and transportation season, this route becomes a lifeline, particularly for trucks bound for Delhi and other states. But the two-lane road surface is deteriorated, posing safety risks and transit delays-adding to logistical costs and frustrating local residents and drivers alike.
The planned four-laning project, featuring 9 tunnels and multiple bridges, is not merely an infrastructure upgrade. It represents a transformative opportunity for the region. By bypassing the congested Jammu corridor, this road will drastically reduce travel time and vehicle load on existing national highways, improving overall traffic management across the Union Territory. Moreover, en route villages stand to benefit from increased connectivity, opening new economic, tourism, and employment avenues, particularly in scenic locations like Mansar. The project has already seen preliminary work-alignment surveys by NHAI and DPR preparation by BRO. Yet, MoRTH’s hesitation, largely due to setbacks in Bharatmala Phase-I projects elsewhere, is preventing a region-specific solution from being realised. While national-level concerns are valid, delaying every project uniformly is counterproductive. The Central Government must acknowledge the strategic, economic, and developmental potential of this project and grant it immediate clearance. Alternative routes like this are not luxuries-they are necessities. For J&K’s road infrastructure to evolve sustainably and efficiently, the Samba-Mansar-Udhampur four-laning project must be greenlit without further delay.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
