New Delhi: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) J&K President and Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha), Sat Sharma, today raised the issue of the persistent delay in the completion of the Jammu–Akhnoor four-lane road project in the Rajya Sabha in the zero hour, urging the Government of India to ensure its timely completion and strengthen monitoring of the execution process.
Raising the matter in the Upper House, Sat Sharma drew the government’s attention to the strategic and developmental importance of the project on National Highway 144A, connecting Jammu with Akhnoor. He emphasised that the project is a key component of the historic Prime Minister’s Development Package (PMDP) for Jammu & Kashmir, announced by Narendra Modi in November 2015, which envisaged more than ₹80,000 crore for 63 transformative development projects to accelerate infrastructure and economic growth in the Union Territory.
Sat Sharma informed the House that the ₹917-crore Jammu–Akhnoor road project, implemented by National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL), aims to upgrade about 26 kilometres of the NH-144A stretch into a modern four-lane highway, providing safe, smooth and reliable connectivity between Jammu city and the strategically significant border town of Akhnoor.
Highlighting concerns about the slow pace of work, Sharma noted that the project, originally targeted for completion by mid-2021, remains unfinished despite multiple deadline extensions. Referring to official information presented in Parliament, he said that only limited stretches of the corridor have been completed so far, resulting in substantial delays and increased project costs.
The BJP leader emphasised that Akhnoor is of immense strategic importance, as it houses the headquarters of the Indian Army’s 10th Infantry Division and lies close to the international border. The road also serves as a crucial connectivity corridor linking Jammu to the border districts of Rajouri and Poonch along the Line of Control, making it an essential defence and logistics route in addition to its importance for civilian movement.
Sat Sharma further noted that thousands of daily commuters, including students, patients, and pilgrims travelling to the revered Shiv Khori Shrine, depend on this road. However, incomplete stretches, unfinished bridges, poor road surface conditions and inadequate drainage have increased travel time and raised safety concerns for the public.
While acknowledging the Government of India’s proactive efforts to address the issues, Sat Sharma urged the implementation of stronger accountability mechanisms, faster construction of pending bridges, and enhanced monitoring systems to ensure the revised March 2026 deadline is met without further delay.
Reaffirming the BJP’s commitment to the development of Jammu & Kashmir, Sat Sharma said that under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, infrastructure development across the Union Territory has witnessed unprecedented momentum. He stated that projects such as the Jammu–Akhnoor four-lane highway are vital for improving connectivity, boosting economic growth, strengthening national security, and enhancing the quality of life for the region’s people.
Sharma expressed confidence that, with the Modi Government’s continued dedication to inclusive development across India, the long-awaited project will soon be completed and deliver on the promise of world-class infrastructure for the people of Jammu.
