The Lok Sabha has reported that from 2018-19, approximately 1,436 kilometres of National Highways have been constructed throughout the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
This information represents an important milestone in the long process of building a better infrastructure throughout the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. The Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir has undergone a major transformation: connecting the once hazardous routes now are smooth, all-weather corridors that create prosperity throughout the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
The Central Government’s continued efforts to complete this massive undertaking have improved the historical infrastructure deficiencies in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. Significant development of the roadway infrastructure throughout the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir occurred between 2020-21. Therefore, the rapid development of these roadways has provided a tremendous benefit to the local residents of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, to the tourists to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, and to the logistics sector within the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
This significant expenditure of resources on the construction of 1,436 km of highway and 8 major urban ring roads, 5 strategic border roads, and numerous tunnel projects provides a strategic investment to support and drive economic prosperity in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
The consequences of this transformation in the history of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir are monumental to every person and organization in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. The upgraded roadway infrastructure on the critical travel corridor between Jammu and Srinagar now provides a more efficient means of travel, shorter travel times, and improved safety while travelling the Jammu-Srinagar corridor.
The improved roadway systems in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir have increased tourism within the region, which is a critical component in the economy of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, and provided a more efficient and reliable logistical means for Kashmiri agriculture products to reach national markets.
This large investment in infrastructure will do more than just improve transportation. It will also provide an increase in territorial integration between communities through the ease of transporting basic goods and security officials.
The development of tunnels and durable slopes will lead to less potential for winter closure (deep snow causing roads to be closed down) by providing year-round access to areas that currently have limited accessibility.
In reviewing the developments, the shift from just moving to connecting people, goods and services has been elevated to ensuring that the systems in place are safe, dependable and that they provide a contemporary means of transportation.
Since 2018-19, the completion of 1,436 km of new roadways is not just about changing the surfaces of roads; it is about changing the way people interact, and improving the overall prosperity of the economy within Jammu and Kashmir.
