Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo on Wednesday chaired a high-level review meeting with key infrastructure agencies to assess progress on various national highway (NH) projects across Jammu and Kashmir. He called for fortnightly physical and financial progress reports from executing agencies to ensure strict monitoring and timely completion of all ongoing works.
The meeting was attended by top officials including the Additional Chief Secretary (Forests), Principal Secretary (Finance), Divisional Commissioners of Kashmir and Jammu, Deputy Commissioners, Chief Engineers of PWD, and senior representatives from NHAI, NHIDCL, BRO, Beacon, and Project Sampark.
Dulloo emphasized that these highway projects are being monitored at the highest levels of government, and instructed officials to submit weekly updates to the PWD and biweekly reports to his office. He also directed that reports should identify individuals responsible for any delays, warning that a lackadaisical approach would not be tolerated and would invite disciplinary action.
“Work in double shifts where necessary. The administration is ready to provide all required support,” Dulloo assured the agencies.
Finance Secretary Shailendra Kumar urged Deputy Commissioners to support agencies in identifying designated mining blocks to ensure uninterrupted supply of raw materials for construction.
Key Projects Reviewed
Under NHAI:
- Delhi–Amritsar–Katra Expressway (various phases)
- Ring Road Jammu (including tunnel construction)
- Ramban–Banihal section of NH-44
- Marog–Digdol and Digdol–Khuni Nallah tunnels
- Makarkot–Sher Bibi viaduct
- Ring Road Srinagar (multiple sections)
Under NHIDCL:
- Zojila Tunnel
- Jammu–Akhnoor Road
- Chenani–Sudhmahadev Road
- Goha–Khellani and Khellani–Khanabal Highway
- Singhpora–Vailoo Tunnel
Under BRO (Project Beacon & Sampark):
- Srinagar–Baramulla–Uri Highway
- Rafiabad–Kupwara–Tangdhar Highway
- Surankot–Narbal Highway
- Khanabal–Baltal Highway
- Akhnoor–Poonch Highway
- Shopian–Surankot Road
- Rajouri–Thannamandi–Surankot and Budhal–Mahore–Gul Road
R&B Projects:
- Flyover at Sanat Nagar
- NH-444 (Srinagar–Budgam–Pulwama–Shopian–Kulgam–Qazigund)
- Bypass roads for Pulwama, Kulgam, and Shopian towns
- Road safety and strengthening works across J&K
Focus on Vibrant Villages Programme (VVP) Phase-II
In a parallel meeting, Chief Secretary Dulloo reviewed preparedness for implementation of Phase-II of the Vibrant Villages Programme, aimed at transforming life in border villages across Jammu and Kashmir.
Attended by the Secretary, Planning Development & Monitoring Department (PD&MD) and respective Deputy Commissioners, the meeting stressed the need for designating nodal officers, preferably Sub-Divisional Magistrates (SDMs), for effective execution of VVP in their areas.
“The programme should be aligned with the Prime Minister’s vision of inclusive and sustainable border development,” Dulloo said.
He instructed the Planning Department to integrate various government schemes like HADP, Mission YUVA, Daksh Kisan, and JKRLM to build model villages showcasing strengths in agriculture, horticulture, skilling, and tourism.
He also directed DCs to complete service and infrastructure gap analyses, form District and UT-level committees, and expedite submission of the first batch of Village Action Plans (VAPs) to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
Secretary PD&MD Talat Parvez Rohella informed that 124 border villages in 43 blocks across eight districts—Jammu, Samba, Kathua, Rajouri, Poonch, Bandipora, Baramulla, and Kupwara—have been selected under the programme. Additionally, four vulnerable villages in Poonch have been recommended due to cross-border displacement.
