In a significant stride towards inclusive development, the Union Government has sanctioned an unprecedented package of Rs 4224.23 crore under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana-IV for J&K, covering 316 new road projects and connecting 390 remote habitations. This marks the largest-ever allocation for rural connectivity in the UT and is a culmination of a decade-long transformative push to revolutionise infrastructure in one of India’s most geographically and strategically complex regions. J&K, with its rugged terrain, scattered settlements, and extreme weather patterns, has historically lagged in infrastructure development, particularly in rural connectivity. Mountainous topography, heavy snowfall, and political instability often hampered the construction and maintenance of roads, leaving large swathes of border and remote areas isolated. For decades since independence, many villages remained inaccessible by road, depriving residents of access to healthcare, education, employment, and other vital services. The current regime, however, has managed to break this inertia, and in the last ten years, a quiet revolution has unfolded across the valleys and mountains-through a growing network of rural roads.
The latest PMGSY-IV package adds 1,781 km of new roads, supplementing the 229 roads and 66 bridges sanctioned under PMGSY-III worth Rs 2,330 crore. Notably, this new package focuses entirely on fresh connectivity rather than upgradation-clearly indicating the government’s intent to extend the first-ever road access to villages that have remained cut off for generations. The majority share is borne by the central government, ensuring that local fiscal constraints do not hinder progress. The socio-economic implications of this road revolution are profound. Roads are not merely physical conduits-they are lifelines that carry opportunities, services, and security. In previously isolated areas, roads have brought doctors to the sick, teachers to students, and farmers to markets. Access to hospitals, government offices, banks, and educational institutions has become feasible for thousands of families. Women and the elderly, once forced to travel on foot over treacherous terrain, can now reach destinations quickly and safely.
Moreover, road construction under PMGSY has emerged as a potent tool for poverty alleviation. By generating lakhs of man-hours of labour, these projects inject money directly into the local economy. The mechanism of direct benefit transfer ensures that wages reach workers without leakage or delay, safeguarding the earnings of the poor and unemployed. For many, a pay cheque represents not just income, but dignity and economic participation. The ripple effect is visible in improved consumption, better health, and enhanced enrolment in schools-all critical indicators of human development.
Strategically, too, the road expansion holds immense significance. Improved connectivity enables faster deployment of security forces, swifter response during emergencies, and broader surveillance of vulnerable border zones. For the first time in decades, even the most remote hamlets are under the visible reach of the state.
Perhaps the most telling endorsement of this road-led transformation comes from quarters that would typically remain critical of it. Several opposition parties and independent leaders have openly acknowledged the scale and impact of rural road development, setting aside political compulsions to recognise infrastructural progress. This bipartisan appreciation underscores the non-negotiable importance of connectivity in securing peace, stability, and progress in Jammu and Kashmir.
Factually, the past decade has redefined the developmental landscape of Jammu and Kashmir through the prism of rural road connectivity. What began as a policy commitment has turned into a grassroots movement, changing the way people live, move, and aspire. With the latest Rs 4224 crore PMGSY-IV package, the region stands at the threshold of an even deeper transformation. As roads snake through the hills and valleys, they carry more than concrete-they carry hope, growth, and the promise of a more inclusive and secure future.
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