The Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has revealed significant developments in highway construction and upgradation projects across Jammu & Kashmir over the last four years. Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, said J&K has seen consistent investment in road infrastructure, albeit with varying project volumes and costs. He said in J&K, a total of 43 highway development and upgradation projects were approved between 2021-22 and 2024-25, covering approximately 653 kilometres of road length at a cumulative cost of over Rs 27 thousand 800 crore.

In 2021-22 alone, 15 projects covering 197 km were sanctioned at a significant investment of Rs. 14 thousand 235 crore. The following year, 2022-23, saw an additional 15 projects approved, adding 248 km of National Highway length with a total allocation of Rs. 9 thousand 538 crore. The pace of approvals slowed slightly in 2023-24, with 8 projects covering 179 km and costing Rs. 2 thousand 774 crore.

In the current financial year 2024-25, up to August, 5 more projects have been cleared, covering 29 km with an allocation of Rs. 1 thousand 262 crore. Gadkari further said the synergy with the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan (NMP) is also evident in these phased and prioritised developments.

The Union Minister said that National Highway development is a continuous process, and projects are taken up based on traffic density, road condition, connectivity needs, and strategic priorities aligned with national development goals. The pending proposals are being reviewed and prioritised in coordination with the PM Gati Shakti framework.