Transforming connectivity in J&K! Gadkari announces sanctions worth Rs 2,094 crore for widening, strengthening of various National Highway projects

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Friday announced that the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has allocated Rs 2,093.92 crore for the widening and strengthening  of several National Highway projects in Jammu and Kashmir.

Strengthening National Highways in Jammu and Kashmir

In a string of posts on platform X, Minister of Road Transport and Highways disclosed that an allocation of Rs 1,404.9 crore has been sanctioned for the widening and reinforcement project of the Rafiabad-Kupwara-Chowkibal-Tangdhar-Chamkot section of National Highway-701 in Jammu and Kashmir.

He mentioned that this endeavor, conducted within Project Beacon in Baramulla and Kupwara districts, operating under EPC Mode within Package I, seeks to convert the 51 km route into dual lanes.

The minister announced that Rs 126.58 crore has been allocated for the development, operation, and maintenance of a ropeway from SDA Parking (Near Zabarwan Park) to Shankaracharya Temple. Besides this, an allocation of Rs 562.40 crore has been sanctioned for the upgradation and strengthening of the Nashri-Chennai section of National Highway-244.

Covering a distance of 39.10 km across Udhampur and Ramban districts, this initiative  operates on the EPC mode under National Highway.

Vital for regional logistics, this strategic pathway, linking Baramulla and Kupwara districts, holds significant importance, serving as a linchpin for the tourism sector’s growth in North Kashmir near the International Border.

In a separate post, Gadkari mentioned that his ministry has allocated Rs 1,532.97 crore for the enhancement of National Highway projects in Gujarat.

He also disclosed that the MoRTH has authorised Rs 936.26 crore for the construction of a 10 km long four-lane elevated corridor on the Kalimandir-Dimna Chowk-Baliguma section of National Highway-33 (New-18) in Jamshedpur, Jharkhand.

He said this initiative, executed under Project Beacon in Baramulla and Kupwara districts on EPC Mode under Package I, aims to transform the 51 Km route into two lanes.

In another post, the minister said an allocation of Rs 126.58 crore has been approved for the development, operation and maintenance of a ropeway from SDA Parking (Near Zabarwan Park) to Shankaracharya Temple.