Srinagar, October 21, 2025 – In a major boost to rural infrastructure in Jammu and Kashmir, the Government of India has approved funding of Rs 292.3 crore for 36 road projects under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY-IV Batch-I) for the 2025–26 fiscal year, specifically targeting the Baramulla Parliamentary Constituency. The announcement, communicated through a letter from Union Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, to the incarcerated Member of Parliament (MP) from Baramulla, Engineer Abdul Rashid Sheikh (also known as Er Rashid), has been hailed as a significant step towards enhancing connectivity in the region.The projects, approved under the flagship PMGSY scheme aimed at providing all-weather road access to unconnected habitations, are expected to benefit remote villages across Baramulla district and adjoining areas.
This development comes amid ongoing efforts to improve rural road networks in the Union Territory, building on previous sanctions like the Rs 336 crore allocation for similar projects announced earlier in July 2025.Chief Spokesperson of the Awami Ittehad Party (AIP), Inam Un Nabi, expressed strong support for the initiative during a press statement in Srinagar. “This is a welcome move that reflects the government’s commitment to the developmental aspirations of the people of Baramulla,” Nabi said. He credited the advocacy of AIP president and Baramulla MP Engineer Rashid, who has been detained in Tihar Jail since 2019 on terror funding charges, for pushing forward such infrastructure proposals despite his incarceration.Nabi emphasized the transformative potential of these road projects in Baramulla, noting that improved connectivity would not only facilitate better access to essential services like healthcare and education but also stimulate local economies through enhanced trade and tourism.
“The Centre’s sanction of Rs 292.3 crore for these 36 initiatives under PMGSY is a testament to Engineer Rashid’s unwavering dedication to grassroots development,” he added.However, Nabi urged the Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory (UT) administration to prioritize timely and transparent execution of the works. “Delays and mismanagement have plagued similar projects in the past. We call on the authorities to ensure that the benefits of these sanctions reach the intended beneficiaries without any hurdles or corruption,” he stated, highlighting the need for accountability to maximize the impact on rural communities.
The AIP welcomes move as part of a broader push for equitable development in Kashmir. Party leaders have long advocated for increased funding under schemes like PMGSY to address the region’s unique geographical challenges, including mountainous terrain and harsh winters that often isolate villages.This sanction aligns with the Centre’s larger infrastructure agenda for Jammu and Kashmir, which has seen allocations exceeding Rs 4,000 crore for rural roads in recent years. Earlier in 2025, the Ministry of Rural Development approved Rs 4,224 crore for 316 rural roads across the UT, with Baramulla receiving a significant share. The latest approval for 36 road projects in Baramulla is anticipated to cover critical stretches in underserved areas, though specific details on the routes and timelines are yet to be disclosed.Local residents and community leaders in Baramulla have reacted positively, viewing the development as a much-needed relief for daily commuters and farmers. “Better roads mean faster access to markets and schools. This will change lives in our villages,” said a villager from Uri tehsil, one of the areas likely to benefit.As the UT administration gears up for implementation, all eyes will be on how swiftly these projects translate from paper to pavement, ensuring that the Centre’s sanctions deliver tangible progress for the people of Baramulla.
