Srinagar Ring Road Phase-I at 71.5%, Phase-II Completion Target December 2026: CS

SRINAGAR: Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo on Monday chaired a review meeting to assess the status of ongoing national highway projects across Jammu and Kashmir.

The meeting noted that 63.87 percent of work on the Zojila Tunnel has been completed and is expected to be finished by February 2028.

The Srinagar Ring Road Phase-I has reached 71.5 percent physical progress, with a revised completion target of November 30, 2025, while Phase-II, from Sumbal to Wayul, is likely to be completed by December 2026. The Jammu Ring Road tunnels are slated for completion by March 31, 2026. Various packages of the Jammu-Akhnoor Road are expected to be completed in full by December 2025, and the Akhnoor-Poonch highway by January 2026.

The meeting was attended by Principal Secretary, APD; Commissioner Secretary, Forests; Secretary, PWD; Chief Engineers of R&B Jammu and Central Kashmir; Chief Engineers of Beacon; Project Directors from NHAI; representatives from NHIDCL and other officials, while Deputy Commissioners joined virtually.

The Chief Secretary instructed the Deputy Commissioners to address land acquisition and mining issues that are delaying work. He also directed executing agencies to deploy machinery and manpower efficiently to ensure projects progress without delay.

Projects under review included those being implemented by the National Highways Authority of India, National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited, Border Roads Organisation (under Project Sampark and Beacon), and the Public Works Department. Key projects assessed included the Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway, Jammu Ring Road, and major works along the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, including the Marog-Digdol tunnel, Digdol-Khuni Nallah section, and Makarkot-Sherbibi viaducts.

Recently awarded projects such as Srinagar Ring Road Phase-IIA from Manigam to Pandach, and the service road for the Domel-Udhampur section of NH-44, are expected to start soon.

The Chief Secretary also reviewed PWD projects including bypasses in Pulwama, Kulgam, and Shopian, as well as the service road along NH-44 (Srinagar Bypass).

The meeting further discussed a proposed action plan for 19 new projects covering a total length of 296 kilometres at an estimated cost of Rs 10,637 crore. These include a four-lane flyover from Lal Chowk to Parimpora Junction, construction of four-lane flyovers at Pantha Chowk and Magam, and proposed tunnels at Panjtarni, Pir Ki Gali and Sadhna.