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Journalism of Courage
Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor Manoj Sinha on Tuesday (October 24) asked security agencies to “secure vital infrastructure projects” across the Union Territory. Sinha’s directions came after a militant attack on the employees of APCO Infratech, which is constructing the strategic Z-Morh tunnel on the Srinagar-Ladakh national highway, killed seven people. This is the first militant attack on a key infrastructure project in Jammu and Kashmir.
Several key infrastructure projects are in progress in Jammu and Kashmir, of which many are strategically important. The Indian Express takes a look.
Connecting Sonamarg in Kashmir with Drass in Kargil, the tunnel will provide all-weather connectivity to Ladakh, which remains cut-off for almost five months every year due to snow.
The strategic project is being built by Megha Engineering and Industries Limited (MEIL) at a cost of Rs 6,800 crore. It comprises a 13-kilometer tunnel from Baltal in Sonamarg to Minimarg in Drass and a 17-kilometer approach road.
The tunnel bypasses the treacherous and highly avalanche-prone Zojilla pass, and will reduce travel time of over three hours to just 15 minutes. The tunnel, considered Asia's largest road tunnel, will be built at an altitude of 11,578 feet.
While the deadline for the project was December 2026, it has been extended to December 2030.
The 6.412-kilometre tunnel bypasses the avalanche-prone area of Gagangir and connects Kangan town with a Sonamarg tourist resort in Ganderbal district. The tunnel will not only provide all-weather connectivity to the tourist spot, but is also essential for all-weather connectivity to Ladakh. Read more about this project in our explainer here.
This Rs 16,000-crore project aims to provide all-weather connectivity between Jammu and Srinagar. The four-laning project through the treacherous mountains of Ramban and Banihal comprises 10 tunnels (equalling 21.5 kilometers), a viaduct at Ramban, and several bridges. The project was started in 2015 and after missing several deadlines, is expected to be completed by 2026.
Once completed, the NH-44 would cut the time travel between Jammu and Srinagar to less than half.
Being set-up on 221 acres of land, the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) is under construction at Awantipora in south Kashmir's Pulwama district. In 2015, the Centre agreed to two AIIMS for Jammu and Kashmir — one in Jammu and one in the valley. The cabinet approval was given in January 2019. Worth Rs 1,828 crore, the project was awarded to Nagarjuna Construction Company Limited (NCC) with a deadline of January 2025, but is likely to miss the deadline.
The project executed by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) was approved in 2021 with a cost of Rs 2,919 crore. The road aimed to decongest traffic in five districts of the valley, namely Pulwama, Srinagar, Budgam, Baramull and Ganderbal.
Along with an over-60-km road stretch, the project comprises around 300 culverts, two flyovers, two over-road bridges and a toll plaza. The project has missed two deadlines of February 2024 and August 2024, and the new date is June 2025
The four-laning of the 100-km stretch was approved in 2022 and work is in progress. The project consists of two phases — the Narbal-Baramulla stretch and the Baramulla-Uri stretch. Additionally, the project comprises two bypass road projects at Pattan and Baramulla and two flyovers at Sangrama and Delina. The project is being executed at a cost of Rs 823.45 crore.
Ratle Hydroelectric power project: The 850-MW hydroelectric power project is being constructed on the Chenab river in the Kishtwar district of Jammu's Chenab valley. First announced in 2010, the project's contract was bagged by Hyderabad-based GVK Ltd. In 2013, the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh laid the foundation stone. A few years later, GVK Constructions walked out of the agreement. In 2019, when Jammu and Kashmir was under Governor's rule, the government signed a MoU between NHPC and JKSPDC under a joint venture company. The project, at a cost of Rs 5,282 crore, is being constructed by Megha Engineering Limited. It consists of two power stations and a 133-meter high gravity dam.
Kwar HE Power project: The 540-MW power project is being constructed at Padyarna village of Kishtwar at a cost of Rs 4,526 crore. The project consists of a 109-meter high concrete gravity dam and four power units of 135 MW each. The deadline is November 2026. The project is being executed by the Chenab Valley Power Projects, a joint venture of NHPC and JKPSDC.
Pakal Dul Power project: Built on Marusudar river, a tributary of Chenab in Kishtwar district, Pakal Dul is a 1,000-MW power project being built at a cost of Rs 8,112 crore. The project comprises a 167-metre high concrete gravity dam and four power units of 250 MW each. The deadline for the project, being executed by Chenab Valley Power Projects, is September 2025.
Kiru HE power project: The 624-MW power project is also coming up on the Chenab river in Kishtwar. Coming at a cost of Rs 4,287 crore, the power project comprises a 135-meter high concrete gravity dam and four power houses of 156 MW each. It is also being executed by the Chenab Valley Power Projects.
