Jammu, Jan 20: Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo on Tuesday chaired a meeting of the Union Territory Level Standing Committee (UTLSC) on the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) to review progress and approve the future roadmap for PMGSY-IV, aimed at expanding all-weather road connectivity to newly eligible rural habitations across Jammu and Kashmir.
The meeting was attended by the Additional Chief Secretary, Public Works (R&B) Department; Director, National Rural Infrastructure Development Agency (NRIDA); Principal Secretary, Finance; Secretary, Rural Development Department; Engineer-in-Chief (Works); Chief Engineers of PMGSY Jammu and Kashmir, and other senior officers.
During the meeting, the UTLSC approved PMGSY-IV Batch-II proposals for submission to the Ministry of Rural Development for sanction and funding. The approved batch includes 1,487 new road works covering a total length of 7,276.676 kilometres at an estimated cost of ₹16,256.82 crore. These projects aim to provide road connectivity to 1,626 unconnected rural habitations across the Union Territory.
The proposals also include a projected maintenance cost of ₹1,300.55 crore and a renewal cost of ₹1,950.82 crore, ensuring long-term sustainability of the road assets. Border and hilly districts such as Rajouri, Poonch, Kathua, Doda, Baramulla and Kupwara figure prominently in the proposals, reflecting a focused push towards difficult and remote areas.
Reviewing PMGSY-IV Batch-I (2025–26), the Committee was informed that 316 road works have already been sanctioned, with 221 roads in Jammu Division and 95 in Kashmir Division. Of these, 313 works have been tendered and 292 have reached the stage of issuance of Letters of Acceptance, Notices to Proceed or execution of agreements.
Officials explained that PMGSY-IV, approved by the Ministry of Rural Development, will be implemented over five years from 2024–25 to 2028–29 to connect habitations that have become eligible due to population growth as per Census 2011. The eligibility criteria include habitations with a population of 500 or more in plains and 250 or more in hilly areas, including Jammu and Kashmir.
The cost-sharing pattern for the Union Territory remains 90:10 between the Centre and J&K. A Comprehensive New Connectivity Priority List has been prepared at block and district levels, taking into account population, aspirational district status, Scheduled Tribe concentration and convergence with other Central schemes.
Emphasising timely execution and quality construction, the Chief Secretary directed departments to closely monitor progress, resolve procedural bottlenecks and ensure adherence to maintenance commitments. He said the expanded rural road network will significantly improve access to education, healthcare and markets, thereby accelerating socio-economic development in remote and rural areas of Jammu and Kashmir.
