When I once asked an elderly shopkeeper in Sonamarg if he had ever imagined driving from his town to Jammu without being caught in hours of treacherous traffic or snow blockades, he laughed gently and said, “Beta, we never even dreamt of it. But today, we live that dream.”

The Jammu and Kashmir region, long associated with conflict and connectivity challenges, is now writing a new story—one of roads, tunnels, and resilience. Under the current BJP-led central government, infrastructure development, particularly in the road and highway sectors, has experienced unprecedented acceleration. These changes are not just about concrete and tar; they are about transforming lives, unlocking economic potential, and integrating Kashmir more closely with the rest of India. The Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, has been at the forefront of this transformation. Projects worth nearly ₹1.25 lakh crore have been launched in Jammu and Kashmir alone. Since 2014, around 500 kilometres of roads have been constructed, with another 1,700 kilometres in the pipeline—projects valued at ₹75,000 crores. This massive endeavour includes 41 tunnels across Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, with an estimated cost of ₹45,000 crores.
A centrepiece of this development is the expansion of the Jammu-Srinagar highway into a four-lane marvel. This 250-kilometer stretch, executed at an investment of ₹16,000 crore, has not only shortened the journey by 70 kilometres but also halved the travel time—from 9-10 hours to just 4-5 hours. Integrated geotechnical and geospatial designs ensure reduced risk from landslides, significantly improving safety and reliability for travellers. Then there are the game-changers—the Z-Morh and Zojila tunnels. The Z-Morh tunnel, recently inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, extends 6.5 kilometres and ensures year-round access to the picturesque yet often-isolated town of Sonamarg. Meanwhile, the 14-kilometer-long Zojila tunnel, still under construction, promises to bypass the treacherous Zojila Pass, connecting Srinagar with Leh even during the harshest winters. Beyond connectivity, these roads are economic lifelines. Improved road networks are revitalizing tourism—bringing a surge of visitors that translates into income for homestay owners, food vendors, transporters, and adventure tourism providers. Minister Gadkari anticipates a fourfold increase in tourist footfall, accompanied by a rise in hospitality infrastructure, such as resorts and restaurants, which will open up job opportunities and entrepreneurial ventures for the youth of Kashmir. But innovation doesn’t end there. Plans for ropeways and cable cars—estimated between ₹25,000 to ₹30,000 crores—are also underway. These systems are envisioned not only as tourist attractions but as practical, eco-conscious transport solutions for hilly regions where conventional roadwork is either impractical or environmentally taxing. Green practices are being integrated into these ambitious projects. From using plastic waste in road construction to leveraging geo-tagging for real-time project monitoring, sustainability is not being sidelined. It is being built into the blueprint.
Yet, the journey is not without its bumps. Land acquisition, unpredictable weather, tough terrains, and occasional local resistance pose genuine challenges. But there is growing public support and enhanced coordination among agencies to address these hurdles. As road rollers flatten rugged paths and bridges span rivers that once seemed to divide more than connect, Kashmir is slowly but surely stepping into a new era. Under the central rule, infrastructure in Kashmir is no longer an afterthought—it is a priority, a promise, and a powerful statement of inclusion. These roads, tunnels, and ropeways are more than just development projects. They symbolize a shift in perception—of Kashmir not as a remote, conflict-torn region, but as a vital, thriving chapter in India’s story. And as each kilometre gets added to the network, so does a new layer of hope for the people who call this land home.

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