Jammu: Union Minister Jitendra Singh on Saturday laid the foundation stone for 110 PMGSY road projects worth Rs 1,503 crore in his Udhampur parliamentary constituency, aimed at improving rural connectivity in the remote and challenging terrain of Jammu and Kashmir.
He thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for giving the Udhampur-Kathua-Doda Parliamentary constituency high priority over the last 12 years, particularly during the last five years, resulting in sustained expansion of road connectivity across some of the most remote and difficult hilly areas of the region.
“Udhampur has consistently figured among the country’s top three districts in terms of PMGSY road projects, reflecting the continued priority accorded to rural connectivity in the constituency,” Singh said after laying the foundation stone of the projects under PMGSY-IV, Batch-I of 2026-27.
According to the project statement, the 110 roads together cover 598.455 km and carry a sanctioned cost of Rs 1,503.53 crore. The projects are spread across Kathua, Udhampur, Ramban, Doda and Kishtwar districts and are expected to benefit 46,972 people.
Singh said the sustained focus on rural roads was particularly meaningful in a constituency where many villages are located across steep, remote and geographically difficult terrain. Better roads are not only reducing travel time and difficulties but are also strengthening access to education, healthcare, markets, employment and other essential services, he said.
“The government’s focus will continue to be on strengthening last-mile connectivity, ensuring that difficult geography does not become a barrier to development, mobility or access to opportunities,” he said.
The expanding Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) network would continue to serve both the developmental needs of the people and the strategic requirements of the region, he added.
Singh said the new roads would further transform rural mobility and contribute to ease of living and travel for people living in far-flung areas.
According to the minister, the sustained expansion of PMGSY road connectivity was changing the landscape of rural mobility in the hilly areas by taking all-weather connectivity to villages and habitations that were earlier difficult to access.
The minister said connectivity in these difficult hilly areas also carries an important security dimension.
“Some of the remote and challenging terrains have in the past posed difficulties from the security perspective and have also been vulnerable to movement by terrorists.
“Improved road connectivity will facilitate easier and faster movement of security forces into such areas and strengthen the implementation of anti-militancy and counter-terror operations, while simultaneously bringing development closer to the people living there,” he said.
A notable feature of the projects is the incorporation of waste plastics in road construction in a large number of the works, he said.
He said the project statement specifically records the use of waste plastics across several road packages, combining the objective of strengthening rural connectivity with more sustainable road construction practices.
Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary, in his address, said Jammu and Kashmir was firmly on the path of development and described it as a privilege to be part of the ongoing transformation.
He said the concerns and issues raised by the people would be adequately addressed and assured that the government remains committed to ensuring that development reaches every part of the Union Territory.
Choudhary said the contractors engaged in the execution of the road projects are required to perform their work as per prescribed standards and made it clear that there would be no compromise on the quality of construction.
He said the bidding and tendering processes are being undertaken in accordance with high standards and strict action would be taken against any shortcomings in the execution of works.
The Union minister and deputy chief minister assured the legislators that the issues and concerns raised by them would be taken up for early resolution and necessary steps would be taken to expedite development works and improve connectivity in the concerned areas.
