SRINAGAR, JULY 7, KDC: In a high-level meeting convened today, Advisor to Prime Minister, Tarun Kapoor, undertook a comprehensive review of development trajectory of Jammu and Kashmir, spanning energy, health, infrastructure, urban renewal, connectivity and governance reforms.
Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo, along with other senior officers were present in the meeting.
The meeting brought together Administrative Secretaries of the UT government and senior officials from various Central agencies implementing mega projects across the region.
The Advisor was briefed on the significance, current status and projected completion timelines of each major project.
The session began with a review of major hydroelectric projects (HEPs), which form the backbone of J&K’s energy strategy. Projects like Pakal Dul (1000 MW), being developed at a cost of Rs 12,757 crore and scheduled for completion by December 2026, were prominently discussed. Besides, updates were also shared on Kiru (624 MW) with 60% physical progress, Kwar (540 MW) at 22% progress and Ratle (850 MW) currently at 23% physical progress. Other strategic projects like Sawalkote, Uri Phase-II, Kirthai-II, Bursar and Tulbul Storage also came under focus.
Stressing the strategic significance of these projects at the national level, the Advisor called for robust organizational structures and efficient decision-making processes to ensure their timely execution.
The Advisor took stock of key railway projects including the landmark Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL), and new corridors like Qazigund-Budgam double line, Baramulla-Uri, Sopore-Kupwara, Anantnag-Pahalgam and Jammu-Katra double line. These projects aim to drastically cut the travel time, boost commercial transport and improve the market access for J&K’s horticultural produce.
Road infrastructure, being implemented by NHAI, NHIDCL and BRO, was also reviewed. The Advisor discussed challenges such as construction material availability and the issuance of short-term permits to address the supply gaps.
A detailed review was conducted on the AIIMS campuses at Jammu and Srinagar. While the Jammu AIIMS is already functional, the Kashmir AIIMS is on track for completion by November this year. The Advisor also assessed progress on faculty recruitment and procurement of high-end medical equipment to ensure world-class healthcare delivery in these prestigious institutions.
With a vision for a greener future, the Advisor took stock of solar initiatives under the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana. He asked for focused action on installing grid-connected rooftop solar panels for domestic consumers and government buildings, spearheaded by the government agencies of PDD and J&K Energy Development Agency (JAKEDA).
The health of Dal Lake was also in spotlight, with a review of the existing and proposed Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) to improve water quality and preserve the lake’s ecological balance.
Kapoor emphasized sustainable lake management to protect the valley’s iconic natural heritage.
He also assessed the Urban infrastructure projects in Jammu and Srinagar. These included PM eBus Sewa, Intelligent Traffic Management Systems (ITMS), modern parking infrastructure, IMS Katra, water transport and Smart City/AMRUT schemes. These initiatives are poised to significantly improve the urban mobility, environmental sustainability and citizen-centric service delivery.
The Advisor appreciated the UT’s Mission YUVA, aimed at creating sustainable livelihood avenues for the youth. He emphasised on identifying viable, local sectors and providing both financial and institutional support to promote nano enterprises, MSMEs and startups in sunrise sectors through a comprehensive umbrella scheme.
He also had a detailed review of the telecom connectivity and digital empowerment. He was informed that with the BharatNet initiative, efforts are underway to extend high-speed internet to every corner of the UT, including its most remotest of villages.
Simultaneously, IT reforms being executed in collaboration with BISAG-N were reviewed, with a thrust on making administration more transparent, accountable and accessible through digital platforms and integrated governance tools.
Summing up the review, the Advisor expressed satisfaction with the scale of progress while underlining the need for timely execution, inter-agency coordination and people-centric outcomes. He reaffirmed the Centre’s commitment to give utmost priority to Jammu and Kashmir, transforming the region into a model of inclusive development and digital governance. (KDC)
