Page 17 - NIS English 01-15 Aug 2025

Jammu-Kashmir and Ladakh | COVER STORY

Connectivity speeds up Progress
Connectivity speeds up Progress

was estimated cost for constructing
Roads get new speed...
r3,685 r3,132 8.45-kilometre twin Qazigund-Banihal tunnel.
Road connectivity crore It has reduced the travel time between Jammu
crore is being & Srinagar from 8–10 hours to 5–6 hours.
invested in
r61,528 the ongoing More than 8,000 302 bridges were 250-plus

crore investment was work to km of road was constructed in population
constructed in the
settlements were
the last four years
made for road connectivity. double the last 4 years under to connect those connected by
Travel became easy, and Akhnoor- the Pradhan Mantri settlements that were 99% through
time was saved. Poonch road. Gram Sadak Yojana. not yet connected. PMGSY.

The journey of
growth continues
day and night

Air traffic
The number of air
passengers in Jammu
and Kashmir doubled
since 2019.
Air travel for Jammu
and Srinagar was
ensured even at night.
Every part of the country is
Rail Network r37,000 now connected to Kashmir.
crore was spent to Chenab Bridge is a part r861
Kashmir to connect Baramulla of this line, which is the crore is being invested
Kanyakumari to Katra. world’s highest (359 meters) for the expansion of
railway bridge. Jammu Airport .
The Baramulla-Srinagar-Banihal-Sangaldan rail section was electrified, increasing
the speed of the train here and also made it clean and environmentally friendly.

has been given to the economically weaker section, ties for youth, welfare of scheduled castes-tribes-vic-
while the reservation benefit of 15 new OBC castes tim-exploited-deprived, or constitutional and basic
has been increased from 4 to 8 percent. Also, 10 rights of people, the government is taking every
percent reservation has been given to Pahari, possible effort for the welfare of the common man.
Paddari, Koil, and Gadda Brahmins. With the concept Central laws related to public interest were imple-
of Ek-Bharat-Shrestha Bharat, the development of mented in both the union territories so that people
the people of Jammu-Kashmir-Ladakh has become get their benefits and the progress of the state is
the top priority of the central government. accelerated. The laws for weaker sections, children,
Whether it is women empowerment, opportuni- and senior citizens were strengthened, and the laws

August 1-15, 2025 || NEW INDIA SAMACHAR 15