The much-awaited 143-km stretch of the Delhi–Amritsar–Katra Expressway in Jammu and Kashmir is expected to be completed by August 2027.
Union Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways Ajay Tamta was briefed on the status of the expressway and other key infrastructure projects during a review visit to the Union Territory.
Officials informed the meeting that the 670-km Delhi–Amritsar–Katra Greenfield Expressway, being developed at a cost of Rs 41,000 crore, will significantly improve pilgrimage and regional connectivity. Within Jammu and Kashmir, the 143-km section, estimated at Rs 11,500 crore, is targeted for completion by August 2027 and is expected to reduce the Delhi–Katra distance by 58 km.
During the visit, Tamta travelled along the entire Srinagar–Jammu section of National Highway-44. He inspected the Qazigund–Banihal and Chenani–Nashri tunnels, the landslide-prone Ramban–Banihal stretch and the ongoing Srinagar and Jammu Ring Road projects being executed by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). He also reviewed the Chenani–Sudhmahadev road section and the proposed Sudhmahadev–Dranga tunnel alignment being developed by the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL).
Senior officials of NHAI, NHIDCL, the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), Public Works Department (PWD) and the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways accompanied the Minister during the inspections.
Highlighting infrastructure development in the region since 2014, Tamta said Jammu and Kashmir has witnessed an unprecedented transformation in road and transport connectivity. He noted that before 2014, highway infrastructure was constrained by difficult terrain, frequent landslides and poor all-weather access. Since then, projects worth nearly Rs 1.35 lakh crore have been taken up. Of these, 700 km of roads worth Rs 20,000 crore have been completed, 2,300 km worth Rs 50,000 crore are under construction and DPRs for another 707 km worth Rs 65,000 crore are under preparation.
He said tunnel construction has remained a major focus area. While only five tunnels existed in J&K before 2014, the Jammu–Srinagar corridor alone now has 25 tunnels, of which 20 have been completed and five are under construction. Strategic projects, including the Zojila Tunnel, Digdol–Khooni Nallah, Sungal, Bhimber Gali, Sinthan Pass, Sudhmahadev, Sadhna Pass, Peer Ki Gali and the parallel Chenani–Nashri alignment, are expected to ensure reliable year-round connectivity.
Officials informed the meeting that the Rs 16,000-crore Jammu–Udhampur–Srinagar four-lane corridor has achieved 95 per cent progress. Once completed, it will reduce travel time between Jammu and Srinagar from nine hours to nearly four hours while shortening the distance by about 70 km. Tunnels, viaducts, bypasses and landslide protection measures are transforming NH-44 into a safer all-weather highway.
To further improve resilience, works worth Rs 230 crore are underway at 15 vulnerable locations between Udhampur and Banihal. Bypasses worth Rs 600 crore have already been completed at Banihal, Ramban, Ashajipora, Seri and Makarkote.
Urban mobility is also being strengthened through ring road projects. The 104-km Srinagar Ring Road, costing Rs 7,200 crore, will divert through traffic from the city and improve connectivity to Baramulla, Kupwara, Bandipora, Gurez, Kargil and Leh. Meanwhile, the 58-km Jammu Ring Road is nearing completion, with 53 km already operational, while DPR preparation is underway for the proposed 33-km Eastern Jammu Ring Road.
DPRs are also being prepared for 60 km of road works related to the Amarnath Yatra at an estimated cost of Rs 3,500 crore. The Rs 880-crore Katra Intermodal Station will integrate rail, road and heli-services for pilgrims visiting the Vaishno Devi shrine. Additionally, 54 ropeway proposals worth Rs 30,000 crore have been received, with eight projects valued at Rs 16,000 crore proposed in the first phase at locations including the Amarnath cave, Shankaracharya Temple, Thajiwas Glacier, Bhadarwah, Sanasar and Doodhpathri.
