Centre Releases Rs 678 Crore for Jammu Kashmir’s State Highways in Three Years

SRINAGAR: The Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has said that Jammu and Kashmir received more than Rs 678 crore over the past three years under the Central Road and Infrastructure Fund (CRIF) scheme for the development and maintenance of its state highways. The disclosure was made in Parliament on August 21 in response to a set of questions on the Centre’s support to states for highway upkeep.

According to official data, Jammu and Kashmir was allocated Rs 113.61 crore in 2022-23, but its release shot up to Rs 343.61 crore, indicating that funds were drawn from the unspent balance of earlier years. In 2023-24, accruals were Rs 128.67 crore while the release stood at Rs 206.67 crore. For 2024-25, both accrual and release figures stand at Rs 128.67 crore. This flow of funds, though modest compared to larger states, has been significant in supplementing the Union Territory’s own road development expenditure, particularly as Jammu and Kashmir’s hilly terrain demands frequent repairs and resilience building against landslides, floods, and winter snow damage.

The Ministry clarified that while the Centre is primarily responsible for the development and upkeep of National Highways, the development and maintenance of state roads and state highways rest with the respective state or Union Territory governments. However, CRIF allocations are provided to support these efforts. For Jammu and Kashmir, officials believe that the higher-than-accrued releases in 2022-23 were aimed at catching up on delayed works and strengthening road connectivity in the aftermath of repeated weather-related damages.

The government also told Parliament that maintenance of national highways is being increasingly tied to accountability mechanisms, with defect liability periods and concession contracts for BOT, HAM, and EPC projects mandating upkeep by the concessionaires for periods ranging from five years to as much as thirty years. For stretches outside such contracts, performance-based maintenance contracts are being applied. A digital monitoring system through the NHAI’s Tatpar app and the Rajmarg Yatra grievance portal has also been rolled out to track road condition, citizen complaints, and compliance.

Road safety has been identified as a core concern in Jammu and Kashmir, where accident rates on mountainous stretches are high. The ministry has said road safety audits are now mandatory at design, construction, and operational stages, with third-party inspectors tasked with identifying and rectifying deficiencies.