Srinagar: Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo on Tuesday reviewed the progress of the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) in Jammu and Kashmir and directed the Public Works (R&B) Department to expedite completion of pending works under the earlier phases while ensuring timely implementation of PMGSY-IV, under which 646 new roads will be constructed at an estimated cost of ₹7,790 crore.
The review meeting was attended by Additional Chief Secretary, Public Works (R&B), Anil Kumar Singh, Commissioner Secretary, Forest Department, Chief Engineers of PMGSY Jammu and Kashmir, and other senior officers.
Reviewing PMGSY Phases I, II and III, the Chief Secretary noted that the remaining projects under the earlier phases should be completed without further delay. He directed the department to fix responsibility for inordinate delays and improve accountability in project execution.
Dulloo also called for close coordination among the Public Works Department, Divisional Commissioners, Deputy Commissioners and the Forest Department to resolve issues relating to forest clearances, land acquisition, utility shifting and other statutory approvals affecting project execution.
He instructed Deputy Commissioners to regularly monitor PMGSY works in their respective districts and facilitate inter-departmental coordination to remove bottlenecks.
The meeting was informed that 3,332 of the 3,437 roads sanctioned under PMGSY-I, II and III have been completed, achieving 96.9 per cent physical progress.
Against a sanctioned road length of 20,801.43 kilometres, works on 19,865.36 kilometres have been completed. Officials also informed the meeting that 260 of the 305 sanctioned long-span bridges have been completed under the three phases.
The cumulative expenditure under PMGSY-I, II and III has crossed ₹13,526 crore, according to officials.
Reviewing PMGSY-IV, the Chief Secretary said the programme represents the largest rural road connectivity initiative undertaken in Jammu and Kashmir and would significantly improve all-weather access to remote habitations while boosting socio-economic development.
Officials informed the meeting that under the first two batches of PMGSY-IV, 646 roads covering 3,381 kilometres have been sanctioned at an estimated cost of ₹7,790 crore to connect 792 habitations across the Union Territory.
Under Batch-I (2025-26), 316 roads covering 1,781 kilometres have been sanctioned at a cost of ₹4,224 crore, of which 235 works have already commenced. An expenditure of nearly ₹270 crore has been incurred so far.
For Batch-II (2026-27), all 330 sanctioned roads have received technical approval and have been tendered, with the tendering process at an advanced stage, the meeting was informed.
Additional Chief Secretary Anil Kumar Singh said the department was expediting forest and statutory clearances, tendering and award of new works while pursuing fresh sanctions from the Ministry of Rural Development for the remaining eligible unconnected habitations.
The meeting concluded with a renewed commitment to strengthening rural connectivity and accelerating socio-economic development through timely implementation of PMGSY projects across Jammu and Kashmir.
