Author: KI News

Srinagar: In a landmark decision regarding road connectivity in Jammu & Kashmir, the Government of India has approved the Mughal road and Karnah valley tunnel projects, besides other roads and flyovers.

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways today approved 19 projects, including the Pir Ki Gali and Sadhna tunnel projects, at an estimated cost of Rs 10637 crore.

According to a communiqué from the Ministry, the MoRTH has approved construction of two tunnel projects, three flyovers, four bridges and 10 other works in J&K.

The two key projects sanctioned are 9-kilometre long Pir Ki Gali and 7-kilometer long Sadhna tunnels, involving a total cost of Rs 7160 crore.

While the Pir Ki Gali tunnel will ensure year-round connectivity along the Mughal Road—linking the Kashmir Valley with Pir Panjal—the Sadhna tunnel will provide uninterrupted road access to the strategically vital Karnah Valley, located near the Line of Control.

According to documents, the MoRTH will hold a meeting with the Ministry of Defence over these two projects.

The detailed project reports (DPRs) will be transferred immediately from the National Highways Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) to the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), which operates under the administrative control of the Ministry of Defence (MoD).

The flyover projects approved are four-lane Pantha chowk flyover(Rs 105 crore),4-lane Magam flyover on Narbal- Gulmarg section of National Highway- 701(Rs 445 crore) and four-lane flyover from Lal Chowk to Parimpora junction (Rs 700 crore).

The MoRTH has also approved construction/ improvement of Trehgam- Chamkot road involving a cost of Rs 966 crore.

Meanwhile, the Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for approving 19 mega road and tunnel projects worth Rs 10,637 crore for Jammu and Kashmir.

“Extremely grateful to Hon’ble PM Shri Narendra Modi Ji & Hon’ble Union Minister for Road Transport & Highways Shri Nitin Gadkari Ji for giving approval to 19 mega road and tunnel projects for J&K UT worth Rs.10,637 Crore,” said LG Manoj Sinha in a post on X.

The LG said the approved projects include the construction of Peer-Ki-Gali tunnel, Sadhana tunnel, Zaznar-Shopian section of NH-701A, four-lane flyover from Lal Chowk to Parimpora, Trehgam Chamkote section of NH-701, four-lane Magam Flyover on Narbal-Gulmarg section and Qazigund Bypass.

“Many strategically important projects will improve logistical support & troops mobility. Projects will improve Infrastructure in UT & connect various tourist destinations. Construction of tunnels will reduce the travel time, ensure all-weather connectivity & spur economic growth,” he added.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah also thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for these road and tunnel projects.

The road transport and highways ministry has approved 19 mega road and tunnel projects worth Rs 10,637 crore for Jammu and Kashmir.

“In a major achievement, my government has got Rs 10,600 crore worth of road and tunnel projects approved by the Union government. I am grateful to PM Narendra Modi ji and MoRTH Minister Nitin Gadkari ji for their continued support as we try to steer J-K on a path of progress, development and connectivity,” Abdullah posted on his personal X handle.

A similar message was posted on the official handle of Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister.

Abdullah said that the Jammu and Kashmir government will work in close coordination with the road transport and highways ministry to ensure timely execution of these vital infrastructure projects.

Jammu: Lt Governor Manoj Sinha on Monday said industrial investment proposals worth nearly Rs 60,000 crore are pending in the Union Territory.

He said the efforts of his administration to attract industries to J&K since 2021 have helped in connecting young job seekers directly with employers.

“Rs 25,000 crore worth of investment plans are currently at various stages of implementation. Projects worth Rs 10,000 crore have been completed and have commenced production. The remaining Rs 15,000 crore worth of projects, presently at different stages, will start this year. Nearly Rs 60,000 crore worth of proposals are pending. These have been stalled for some reason, and I hope a decision will be made on them in the near future,” the LG said.

Sinha was speaking at a mega Job Fair-2025 organised by Cluster University of Jammu in collaboration with Desh Bhagat University Punjab, at Padma Shri Padma Sachdev Government PG College for Women here, an official press release informed.

It said as many as 57 reputed companies from across the country participated and 3,759 candidates were registered for the Job Fair.

“Cluster University’s job fair aims to bridge the gap between education and employment. It will provide an opportunity to our young generation to showcase their skills and empower them to start their careers so they can effectively contribute in building Viksit Jammu Kashmir and Viksit Bharat,” the LG said.

He highlighted the reforms, “guided by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which are shaping the education landscape to align with the needs of the industries and creating robust employment avenues for the youth of Jammu & Kashmir”.

“Employment generation, self-employment through entrepreneurship and improving employability of the youngsters through educational transformation has been our top priority. Our efforts to attract industries in J&K since 2021 have helped in connecting young job seekers directly with employers,” Sinha said.

He observed that the presence of local private companies at today’s Job Fair serves as a testament to the significant strides being made in industrialisation and expansion of trade and business activities in the UT of Jammu and Kashmir.

“The operationalisation of new industries is also offering youth better exposure about diverse roles and positions in industries suited for their skills and experience. The overwhelming response from the private sector to recruit youth from J&K is a positive indicator for our economy,” the LG said.

He also spoke on the progressive industrial policy and several key interventions that have attracted private investment in J&K over the past few years.

“The industries had availed the benefits of Rs 28,400 crore worth incentives under the new industrial development scheme in just two-and-a-half years,” he said.

He also attributed the exponential growth registered in the employment generation and entrepreneurship sector in J&K to the dedicated efforts of all stakeholders.

He highlighted their crucial role in successfully implementing schemes and programmes like PM’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP), Rural Employment Generation Programme (REGP), Hausla, Tejaswini, Mumkin, and Mission Youth, along with other initiatives focused on youth empowerment and livelihood generation.

Interacting with the representatives of the participating companies, the Lt Governor highlighted that efforts are being made to provide youth with employment opportunities.

He said the new industrial policy has emphasised on employment to local youth on priority.

Atomic North Private Limited has established a BPO (Business Process Outsource) office in a village in Kathua, providing employment to approximately 375 youths. The company has a potential to employ up to 1,000 youth.

“I have urged them to start a BPO in Udhampur. JSW Group is also bringing a BPO to Jammu,” he said.

The LG distributed job offer letters to selected candidates and also handed over approval for BBA and BCA courses to Cluster University from AICTE.

Jammu: A local court on Monday granted the National Investigation Agency (NIA) five-day remand of two accused who were arrested for harbouring the Pakistani terrorists behind the deadly Pahalgam terror attack in April, officials said here.

The two men – Parvaiz Ahmad Jothar from Batkote, Pahalgam, and Bashir Ahmad Jothar of Hill Park, Pahalgam – were arrested by NIA on Sunday in the first major breakthrough in the investigations into the attack that left 26 persons, mostly tourists, dead and 16 others injured on April 22.

According to the NIA, the arrested accused have disclosed the identities of the three armed terrorists involved in the attack, and have also confirmed that they were Pakistani nationals affiliated to the banned terrorist outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).

The two accused were produced in the court of Additional District and Sessions Judge, Jammu, Ritesh Kumar Dubey, and were sent to NIA custody for five days till June 27, a court official said.

Parvaiz and Bashir had knowingly harboured the three armed terrorists at a seasonal dhok (hut) at Hill Park before the attack, according to NIA investigations.

The two men had provided food, shelter and logistical support to the terrorists, who had, on the fateful afternoon, selectively killed the tourists on the basis of their religious identity, making it one of the most gruesome terrorist attacks ever, the agency said.

Jammu: Police on Monday attached immovable property of a terror accused, who is presently under judicial custody, in Udhampur district, an official said.

Mohammad Shafiq’s 1.3 marla land (one marla =272.25 sq feet) located at Kadwah village of Basantgarh was attached under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), the official said.

The remote Basantgarh forest area witnessed several encounters between terrorists and security forces in the past couple of years.

The official said the attachment has been carried out under Section 25 of the UAPA after the investigations identified the property as being linked to terror-related activities. Shafiq was arrested last year for his links with terrorists and a case under various sections of the UAPA stands registered against him at police station Basantgarh.

The official said the piece of land worth lakhs of rupees has been officially attached and is now legally restricted from being sold, leased, transferred or involved in any third-party transaction.

Srinagar: In a high-level meeting Monday, Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo had a comprehensive review of the functioning of the Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), Soura.

Present in the meeting were Secretary, Health & Medical Education (H&ME); Secretary, Public Works Department (PWD); Director, SKIMS; Principal, SKIMS Medical College; Chief Engineer (Central), R&B and other key officers from the Health department.

According to an official press release, the Chief Secretary articulated a clear vision for the future of SKIMS, stressing the imperative to exert every effort to expand the academic offerings as per the commitments made by SKIMS administration. He specifically called for rapid addition of seats to specialization courses, with a particular focus on the proposed 44 DM/ MCH courses and a substantial increase of 130 MD/MS/ PGD seats across 16 critical specialties. He asked to ensure these expanded opportunities are available to students as early as the next academic year.

Beyond academics, the Chief Secretary strongly urged the hospital administration to undertake a significant overhaul and upgrade of services in both the Emergency and Outpatient Department (OPD) sections. He asked for submission of high-impact proposals detailing plans for augmenting the infrastructure in these critical patient care areas, aimed at providing a much better experience and outcomes for the patients.

Dulloo asked the officers to ensure that the Liver Transplant Unit becomes fully functional by the end of this calendar year, a crucial step in advanced medical care for the region. He also advised the administration to develop and present proposals for establishment of other such specialized units, clearly outlining their anticipated outcomes and the tangible benefits they would bring to patient care at SKIMS.

Addressing the vital aspect of human resources, the Chief Secretary meticulously reviewed the current faculty and staff positions within the college, paying close attention to those vacancies that have been referred to various recruitment agencies for filling. He directed the Health department to take up the issue of filling these vacant posts on a priority basis with the respective recruiting agencies.

He emphasized the institute’s core objective of carrying out quality medical research. In this context, he specifically highlighted the need for research into the reasons behind the observed high prevalence of cancer in the region compared to past trends.

Secretary, H&ME, Dr. Syed Abid Rashid Shah, presented a comprehensive update on the status of faculty recruitment and the current positions of paramedical staff. He informed the meeting that a significant step forward had been taken with the revival of 105 faculty positions at SKIMS, which have subsequently been forwarded to the Public Service Commission for expediting recruitment against them.

The Secretary highlighted the achievement of finalization of recruitment rules for all non-gazetted posts across every medical college in the region, a crucial regulatory framework that had been pending for decades.

Director, SKIMS, Dr. Mohammed Ashraf Ahangar, presented an overarching picture of the institution’s functioning and the vast array of services it offers. He recounted SKIMS’s impressive journey of growth and transformation since its establishment in 1982, when it began with a modest capacity of just 500 beds.

Dr. Ahangar elucidated upon various measures taken by the institute in adherence to earlier directives issued by the Chief Secretary. He detailed the ambitious expansion plans of the institution aimed at achieving unparalleled excellence in advancing medical care throughout the region. He further informed the meeting about significant investments in medical technology, revealing that the institute had procured machines worth approximately Rs 94 crore in the past year alone, a substantial boost to its existing machinery to enhance patient care capabilities.

The Director also provided insights into the institution’s forward-looking proposals to substantially enhance the capacity of both the medical college and hospital. These included establishment of new Centres of Excellence in critical areas such as Cancer Care and organ transplant, alongside the development of futuristic departments dedicated to areas like Clinical Research, Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Medicine and Medical Health. He highlighted plans for developing an IT-based structured referral system to streamline patient flow and improve efficiency.

The meeting also included a thorough review of ongoing projects with particular attention to the timeframe for full functionality of the State Cancer Institute located within SKIMS premises, alongside an assessment of other services offered to patients there.

Finally, Principal, SKIMS Medical College, Bemina, Dr Fazlul Qadir Parray, provided valuable insights into the functioning of the college under his purview and the current status of new infrastructure raised there under the ‘Flood Recovery Project’.