The Ministry of Rural Development announced the approval of road projects worth nearly Rs 8,000 crore for Jammu & Kashmir under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY)-IV. This move aims to enhance rural connectivity, agriculture, and livelihoods in the region. Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan handed over the sanction letter for these projects to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah at a ceremony in Srinagar.
Chouhan highlighted the significance of approving such large-scale road projects within a year, emphasizing the government’s dedication to Jammu & Kashmir’s development. He stressed that the objective is not solely road construction but also connecting remote villages, habitations, and far-flung areas to essential services like schools, hospitals, and markets, integrating them into the mainstream of development.
In addition to the road projects, a substantial ‘mother sanction’ of over Rs 4,568.23 crore was released under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana–National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM) to support women-led self-help groups and boost rural livelihoods. Minister Chouhan announced the deployment of a team of scientists from the Indian Council of Agricultural Research to study Jammu & Kashmir’s climate, soil, water resources, and agricultural potential, aiming to develop a comprehensive roadmap for the region’s agricultural sector.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah welcomed these initiatives, describing the approval of nearly Rs 8,000 crore in road projects as extraordinary. He acknowledged the transformative impact of earlier phases of PMGSY in enhancing connectivity in remote areas and expressed optimism that Phase-IV would further connect remaining habitations, despite the region’s challenging geography and scattered population.
