SRINAGAR: NITI Aayog Member Dr N Srinivas on Thursday reviewed major development projects and sectoral initiatives in Jammu and Kashmir and stressed the need for stronger institutional collaboration, effective implementation and outcome-based development planning.
Chairing a review meeting at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC), Srinagar, Dr Srinivas said the discourse in Jammu and Kashmir had shifted from concerns of safety and security to growth and development, reflecting changes in the Union Territory’s development landscape.
The meeting was attended by Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo and senior officers from various departments.
Dr Srinivas emphasised the importance of cooperative and competitive federalism and called for greater collaboration among institutions and governments. He said NITI Aayog could facilitate coordination among stakeholders and provide policy, institutional and technical support where required.
He urged departments to identify specific areas where support could help accelerate development outcomes and highlighted the need for targeted interventions to address challenges and leverage emerging opportunities.
During the meeting, Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo stressed the importance of accelerating economic growth by focusing on agriculture and horticulture, food processing, industry, tourism, research and development, skill development and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
He called for greater value addition in products such as apples, walnuts, cherries and almonds and emphasised the need to strengthen food processing infrastructure to enhance farmers’ incomes and support the local economy.
The Chief Secretary also highlighted the importance of research-driven growth, skill development and strengthening the MSME ecosystem through initiatives such as the New Central Sector Scheme (NCSS). He underscored tourism’s role as a key economic driver and advocated stronger partnerships with institutions, including the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Jammu, to support evidence-based policymaking.
Detailed presentations were made on the progress of major projects and development programmes across sectors including roads, railways, power, drinking water, agriculture, industry, tourism, health, education and urban and rural development.
The review covered major connectivity projects, including the Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway, the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway and other National Highway works. Officials informed the meeting that 18 new highway projects were sanctioned by the Government of India during 2025-26.
Progress under the Prime Minister Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) and National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) was also reviewed. Since 2021-22, 1,074 projects worth ₹4,967.69 crore have been approved, of which 467 have been completed while 607 are under execution.
In the power sector, officials said hydropower projects with a combined capacity of 3,014 MW and an investment of ₹22,207 crore are under development. These projects are expected to generate around 5,800 million units of electricity annually, with the Union Territory aiming to double its hydropower generation capacity by 2028.
The meeting also reviewed progress under the Jal Jeevan Mission. Officials said rural tap-water coverage has increased from 31 per cent at the launch of the mission to 81 per cent, while 901 villages have achieved Har Ghar Jal status.
In agriculture and allied sectors, the Jammu and Kashmir Competitiveness Improvement of Agriculture and Allied Project, with an outlay of around ₹1,800 crore, is being implemented in 90 blocks and is expected to benefit nearly three lakh households.
The review further noted that Jammu and Kashmir recorded investment realisation of ₹5,824.42 crore during 2025-26, while investments worth ₹1,635 crore were realised during the current financial year up to July 2026.
In the health sector, AIIMS Jammu has become operational, while AIIMS Kashmir is reported to be 75 per cent complete. The number of Health and Wellness Centres has increased to 3,175 and 530 ambulances have been integrated under the 102-108 emergency response service.
The meeting also reviewed progress in education, urban development and digital governance. Officials highlighted the expansion of higher education infrastructure, smart classrooms, virtual reality laboratories, e-governance services, digitisation of revenue records and grievance redressal through the JK SAMADHAN platform.
Under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G), 3.27 lakh houses have been completed out of 3.35 lakh sanctioned units, the meeting was informed.
