Chief Minister Omar Abdullah reviews progress of National Highway projects in J&K, stresses timely execution, rehabilitation and strategic coordination

JAMMU: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today chaired a high-level review meeting to assess the progress of key national highway, expressway and tunnel projects across Jammu and Kashmir. The meeting was attended by Advisor to the Chief Minister Nasir Aslam Wani, Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo, Additional Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister Dheeraj Gupta, Commissioner Secretary Forest, Ecology & Environment Department Sheetal Nanda, Commissioner Secretary Mining Department, Vikramjit Singh, Secretary Revenue Department Kumar Rajeev Ranjan; Secretary Public Works (R&B) Department Bhupinder Kumar. Besides, senior officers from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL), Border Roads Organisation (BRO) and Public Works Department (R&B) also participated in the meeting.

The meeting stressed on the need to identify bottlenecks and enhance inter-agency coordination to ensure time-bound and efficient execution of vital infrastructure works. The Chief Minister was briefed on the status of major infrastructure projects being executed by NHAI, NHIDCL, BRO and the PWD. Secretary, Public Works (R&B), Bhupinder Kumar gave a comprehensive presentation, informing that approximately a dozen major highway corridors and one expressway, spanning over 1,800 kilometers, are currently in various stages of execution. These include strategically important routes such as National Highway 44 (Jammu–Srinagar), NH-144A (Jammu–Rajouri– Poonch) and the Delhi–Amritsar–Katra Expressway (NE-5), among others.

The meeting also reviewed 12 major tunnel projects, including the Zoji La Tunnel, Z-Morh Tunnel, Panthal–Magarkote Tunnel, and other projects, many of which are in the advanced stages of construction. Commissioner Secretary Industries and Commerce Vikramjit Singh briefed the meeting on the availability of construction material and mining permissions, highlighting recent improvements and unresolved issues requiring attention at the appropriate forums.

Advisor Nasir Aslam Wani flagged key traffic congestion points and suggested practical mitigation measures. He emphasised incorporating long-term traffic management features into the ongoing highway designs. Omar Abdullah took detailed stock of project-specific challenges and enquired about persistent bottlenecks, particularly those falling within Jammu and Kashmir’s territorial jurisdiction. He emphasized the need to resolve procedural hurdles and recurring loopholes, calling for time-bound clearances and proactive administrative facilitation.

“These projects hold not just developmental but strategic importance. It is our collective responsibility to ensure that there are no unwarranted delays or procedural gaps. The Centre is also closely monitoring these corridors, and our progress must reflect seriousness and coordination,” the Chief Minister observed. Expressing concern over delays caused by land acquisition, forest clearances and shifting of Utilities, the Chief Minister directed the concerned departments to streamline these processes. He called for enhanced inter-departmental synergy, particularly between the executing agencies and the district administrations.

On the issue of public displacement and property acquisition, the Chief Minister stressed the importance of fair and well-planned rehabilitation and resettlement. “Those affected must be given substantial reassurance through timely and fair rehabilitation measures,” he said. He also reviewed security-related constraints in certain stretches and instructed the concerned departments to ensure that project activities remain on schedule with adequate coordination with security agencies.

“These projects are the main road arteries for Jammu and Kashmir’s future economic development. The timely and quality execution of these projects must remain a top priority,” the Chief Minister added.