Jammu–Akhnoor Four-Lane Project to Be Completed in Phases by Mid-2026: Deputy CM  | Kashmir Life

SRINAGAR: Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary on Monday informed the Legislative Assembly that the Jammu–Akhnoor four-lane project on NH-144A is at an advanced stage of execution, with remaining works targeted for phased completion by mid-2026.

Replying to a question raised by MLA Mohan Lal, the Deputy Chief Minister provided a package-wise timeline for the project’s completion.

He said Package-I is likely to be completed by March 31, 2026, while Package-II has already been completed. Package-IIIA is expected to be completed by April 30, 2026, and Package-IIIB by July 31, 2026.

The Deputy Chief Minister stated that delays in certain segments were primarily due to the project alignment passing through densely populated urban areas of Jammu city, resulting in traffic congestion, restricted working hours, and frequent interruptions caused by traffic regulation measures and canal diversion works.

He further informed the House that additional factors affecting progress included slow execution pace, inadequate mobilisation of manpower and machinery, and technical constraints at certain stretches.

Choudhary also highlighted that labour shortages, delays in land acquisition processes, and disruptions in utility shifting and encroachment removal had impacted overall execution timelines.

He added that unseasonal rainfall had further slowed construction activity at multiple locations along the corridor.

According to the Deputy Chief Minister, delays in compensation disbursement to affected landowners and pending relocation of utilities have also contributed to slippages in the project schedule.

The government maintained that despite these challenges, work is progressing on a phased basis, with the project expected to significantly improve connectivity between Jammu and Akhnoor once completed.