Scripting history during his high-powered Jammu visit yesterday on 20th february 2024, Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi led the Bhoomi Poojan ceremony and inaugurated development projects cumulatively worth over ₹32,000 crores. He translated his unwavering commitment for fast-tracking J&K’s growth trajectory into action – resonating strongly with the aspirations of Kashmiri and Jammu youth.
The PM unveiled an economic roadmap for J&K focused on strategic connectivity corridors, energy security as well as grassroot healthcare access reflecting his modern, futuristic vision balancing growth across all sections of the society.
J&K Connectivity Ambition – Delhi Kashmir Expressway
The ambitious Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway project, construction of which started today is the Prime Minister’s dream project mirrored to bridge distances between Kashmir and rest of the country. Built by NHAI at an unprecedented cost of ₹7500 crores over three years, the 672 km long expressway network will reduce the travel time between Katra and Amritsar by half while providing seamless connectivity with the national capital through North India’s first 6-lane expressway integrating Kashmir by road.
According to officials, the state-of-art, access-controlled expressway will have a designated green belt of 8 km long with wayside amenities at intervals of 30-50 km in addition to multiple intersections, bridges, flyovers and elevated corridors. It will pass through the culturally significant cities of Jalandhar in Punjab and Himachal’s Kangra connecting the three Shakti Peethas of Vaishno Devi, Chintpurni Devi and Jawalamukhi temple.
Equipped with advanced traffic management systems, dedicated corridors for movement of Indian Army vehicles, road side call boxes and CCTV cameras, the strategic expressway will not only bolster tourism activity benefitting Jammu’s economy but also strengthen national security through rapid mobilisation of defence forces and equipment closer to the western border.
Energy Security Roadmap for Electricity Sufficiency
The PM initiated the ground-breaking ceremony for the 850 MW Ratle Hydroelectric project and 540 MW Kwar Hydroelectric project coming up on the Chenab river in district Kishtwar jointly at a staggering cost of ₹5300 crores. For the first time in J&K’s history, two mega power units are being set up almost simultaneously by NHPC to harness the water resources for illumination in consonance with environment.
The Ratle Hydroelectric Plant shall have a vast quarter mile dam built with high strength concrete designed to withstand seismic forces along with an underground power station featuring four turbine generator units to supply much needed electricity. It shall draw-down flushing to maintain water quality for optimal fish migration. On the other hand, the Kwar plant shall be equipped with India’s first hydraulic transfer capacity system allowing power unit flexibility to meet peak demands through water transfer between rivers Chenab & Marusudar.
According to NHPC CMD, nearly 8000 workers shall be employed at the two locations during the seven year construction period after which the units shall directly employ close to 1500 highly skilled engineers and technicians for operations. This is the first of many hydro projects in the pipeline totalling 10,000 MW capacity to make J&K independent in energy sector while creating over 1 lakh new jobs for youth, informed the Power Minister RK Singh. J&K currently relies majorly on National Grid for power needs.
Healthcare Access Expanded Through Medical Colleges
Five new Government Medical Colleges cumulatively worth ₹325 crores were also announced via foundation stone laying by PM Modi at Rajouri, Baramulla, Anantnag, Kathua and Doda. Equipped with 500 bed hospitals each, modern OTs and accommodation for faculty & staff, this fulfills the long-standing demand of decent tertiary healthcare access for remote border towns and far-flung villages reflecting the PM’s unwavering sensitivity to J&K’s needs.
The Medical Colleges approved in Phase-I of the Centrally Sponsored Scheme shall now increase MBBS seats in J&K by atleast 100 every year helping retain more doctors locally who often migrate outside for lack of PG courses. Notably, when PM Modi took charge in 2014, J&K had only four functional medical colleges which have now increased to 10 catering to healthcare needs of the entire newly carved out Union Territory.
SARAS AAJEEVIKA Mela Showcases Women entrepreneurs In keeping with his thrust towards women-led development, the PM visited the stalls put up by over 300 women entrepreneurs under the SARAS Aajeevika Mela promoting local crafts like zari, pattu, wood carving, carpets etc that boosts community involvement. Interacting with the women beneficiaries of various Jan Dhan & MUDRA schemes, he appreciated their determination in the face of adversity – unveiling his progressive vision of self reliant women playing pivotal role within grassroot economy.
PM Swings in Celebrations With Palli Panchayat
The Prime Minister was visibly moved interacting with Panchayat representatives and villagers of Palli Gram Panchayat in Samba sub division bordering Jammu where he began his public address by appreciating their dedicated efforts towards achieving 100% saturation across Ujjwala, Saubhagya and Ujala schemes – underlining their exemplary rapid development at grassroot level.
As locals sang Kashmiri traditional song ‘Ae Lo Ghor Diye’ highlighting the celebration of development, the PM swung along conveying his message of inclusive progress reaching even far flung rural hamlets. Palli Panchayat was recently declared India’s first carbon neutral panchayat fully powered by solar energy, with tapped water connections in every household.
Modi Presents 5-Pronged Roadmap for J&K Growth
Through his entire Jammu visit today exemplified by theephyranthes ground breaking ceremonies, the Hon’ble Prime Minister presented a five pronged roadmap for J&K’s rapid, inclusive development across dimensions of connectivity, energy security, healthcare access, community involvement and resilient infrastructure.
This balanced approach steers away from the previous lopsided models of governance focused solely on cities, added officials. By setting up institutions of excellence in every sector while enabling access to basic amenities even in remote areas, he laid out a model of holistic development at the grassroot level for the newly carved out UT.
Invoking Former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s vision of Insaniyat, Kashmiriyat, Jamhooriyat as driving principles of Naya J&K, PM Modi highlighted sustained efforts across last three years on restoring peace, protecting unique cultural identity and strengthening democracy post abrogation of regressive Article 370. “Delimitation exercise was conducted fairly to empower tribals and remote area populations through fair representation,” he added.
The Prime Minister’s Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas Sabka Vishwas doctrine manifested itself clearly as he promised adequate opportunities for all sections ranging from youth, women, tribals to even Pahadi community who have suffered historic injustice signalling that a golden new era of vishwas coupled with suraksha has finally arrived for J&K residents.
Through his unwavering commitment by launching projects cumulatively worth over Rs 32,000 crores during the whirlwind visit, the PM made a compelling statement that J&K’s growth trajectory shall now be unabated in the positive direction with the strength of 1.3 billion Indians lending full support. The Prime Minister stands as a pillar of hope for Kashmiris determined to transform the beautiful valley into paradise on earth once again – ushering an era of peace and everlasting development.
ZAMAN NOOR
Writer is a Current Affairs Analyst, Columnist and actively engaged in peace activism.
Can be reached at
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