Srinagar , July 14,2026- Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo on Tuesday chaired a high-level review meeting to assess the progress of the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) across Jammu and Kashmir, with a special focus on the implementation of PMGSY-IV, the Union Territory’s largest rural road connectivity programme.
The meeting was attended by the Additional Chief Secretary, Public Works (R&B) Department, Commissioner Secretary, Forest Department, Chief Engineers of PMGSY Jammu and Kashmir, and senior field officers associated with the implementation of the flagship rural infrastructure scheme.
During the meeting, the Chief Secretary reviewed the physical and financial progress achieved under PMGSY Phases I, II and III, besides examining the implementation strategy and future roadmap for PMGSY-IV, under which 646 new roads spanning 3,381 kilometres will be constructed at an investment of ₹7,790 crore, connecting 792 rural habitations across Jammu and Kashmir.
Describing the scale of investment under PMGSY-IV as unprecedented, Atal Dulloo said the programme reflects the government’s strong commitment to strengthening rural infrastructure and ensuring balanced development across the Union Territory. He observed that improved road connectivity would provide all-weather access to remote villages while enhancing access to education, healthcare, markets, tourism, and employment opportunities, thereby accelerating socio-economic transformation.
While expressing satisfaction over the substantial progress achieved under the earlier phases of PMGSY, the Chief Secretary stressed that the remaining pending projects must be completed without further delay. He directed the Public Works (R&B) Department to fix responsibility for avoidable delays and ensure greater accountability in project execution.
He also instructed the department to work in close coordination with the Divisional Commissioners, Deputy Commissioners, and the Forest Department to resolve pending bottlenecks related to forest clearances, land acquisition, utility shifting, and other statutory approvals that have affected project timelines.
Emphasising regular field-level monitoring, the Chief Secretary directed all Deputy Commissioners to personally review PMGSY works in their respective districts and facilitate inter-departmental coordination to remove obstacles hindering project execution. He called for the completion of all pending works under the earlier phases well before their stipulated deadlines while maintaining momentum under PMGSY-IV.
Speaking during the meeting, Additional Chief Secretary, Public Works (R&B), Anil Kumar Singh, reaffirmed the department’s commitment to completing all pending PMGSY works within the prescribed timelines. He informed that focused efforts are underway to expedite forest clearances, complete statutory approvals, fast-track tendering, and ensure early commencement of newly sanctioned projects.
The ACS further stated that the department is actively pursuing fresh sanctions from the Ministry of Rural Development for the remaining eligible unconnected habitations so that all-weather road connectivity can be extended to every eligible rural settlement in Jammu and Kashmir.
The Chief Secretary was informed that 3,332 out of 3,437 roads sanctioned under PMGSY Phases I, II and III have already been completed, achieving an overall completion rate of 96.9 per cent. Against the sanctioned road length of 20,801.43 kilometres, works covering 19,865.36 kilometres have been completed, significantly improving connectivity in remote and underserved rural areas.
Officials also informed the meeting that 260 Long Span Bridges (LSBs) have been completed out of the 305 bridges sanctioned under the three phases. The cumulative expenditure under PMGSY-I, II and III has exceeded ₹13,526 crore, reflecting the scale of investment made in transforming rural road infrastructure across Jammu and Kashmir.
Reviewing the progress of PMGSY-IV, officials informed that Batch-I (2025–26) comprises 316 roads covering 1,781 kilometres at a sanctioned cost of ₹4,224 crore, with 235 projects already under execution and an expenditure of nearly ₹270 crore incurred so far.
For Batch-II (2026–27), all 330 sanctioned roads have received technical approval and have been tendered, with the tendering process at an advanced stage.
The meeting concluded with a reaffirmation of the government’s commitment to strengthening rural infrastructure, improving connectivity in far-flung regions, and accelerating inclusive socio-economic development through the successful implementation of the PMGSY programme.
