Srinagar: Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo on Thursday reviewed the progress of major highway and road infrastructure projects across Jammu & Kashmir in a high-level meeting with senior officials from PWD, NHAI, NHIDCL, Project Beacon, Project Sampark, and all Deputy Commissioners.
He conducted a detailed project- and package-wise assessment of ongoing works, seeking clear completion timelines and identification of bottlenecks. Dulloo instructed Deputy Commissioners to expedite land acquisition and compensation to ensure unhindered progress and stressed strict compliance with permissions for extraction and use of construction materials. He also called for swift forest clearances wherever pending.
Both Divisional Commissioners were asked to coordinate regularly with executing agencies to resolve issues quickly and maintain work momentum. The PWD was directed to finalise new DPRs so that projects can move to tendering and execution stages without delay.
The review covered key corridors including Srinagar–Baramulla–Uri, Khanabal–Baltal, Peer ki Gali and Sadhna tunnels, Akhnoor–Poonch Road, Mangam–Doodhpathri–Shopian–Poonch Road, Delhi–Amritsar–Katra Expressway, Kaluchak–Purmandal–Domel Road, and the Fourth Tawi Bridge. Special emphasis was laid on accelerating works along NH-44, particularly tunnel projects and the Banihal–Ramban stretch.
Progress on the Jammu and Srinagar Ring Road projects was also assessed, focusing on land issues, connectivity, and tunnel completion. Other NHIDCL works reviewed included Jammu–Akhnoor Road, Chenani–Sudhmahadev, Goha–Khellani, Khellani–Khanabal, Zojila Tunnel and several revised DPRs.
New proposals under NHAI—such as the Fourth Tawi Bridge, Jammu Ring Road Phase-II, six-laning of Chenani–Nashri Tunnel, Srinagar Ring Road Phase-III, and the Sumbal–Bandipora–Gurez Road—were also discussed.
Dulloo also reviewed R&B projects including town bypasses in Pulwama, Kulgam and Shopian, Sanat Nagar Flyover, Tengpora service road, and bridges at Chanapora and Tengpora, besides new proposals like the Parimpora–Shalteng and Lal Chowk–Parimpora flyovers.
The Chief Secretary stressed that these projects are crucial for mobility, economic development and connectivity across J&K, directing all agencies to work in close coordination for timely completion and swift resolution of impediments.
