“₹260 crore spent on rural roads, one new habitation gets all-weather connectivity; more projects lined up for 2026”
Tauseef Ahmad
Srinagar, Dec 29: Rural road connectivity under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) witnessed steady progress across Jammu and Kashmir during 2025–26, with authorities reporting significant blacktopping, project completions and expenditure, even as delays persisted due to difficult terrain and weather conditions.
Data available with Kashmir Despatch,reads that in Jammu region, a total of 265 kilometres of PMGSY roads were blacktopped during the financial year 2025–26, officials said. As part of new connectivity, one habitation was connected with all-weather road access, while several other roads underwent upgradation in habitations that were already connected earlier.
Phase-wise progress data shows that seven projects under PMGSY-I, one under PMGSY-II, and 55 projects under PMGSY-III were completed in 2025. At present, 95 projects under PMGSY-I, three under PMGSY-II, and 45 under PMGSY-III are ongoing in the Jammu region.
The government incurred an expenditure of ₹190.94 crore under PMGSY during 2025. Officials acknowledged that some projects were delayed due to challenging terrain, adverse weather conditions, contractor-related issues and land disputes.
Maintenance of completed roads, they said, is being ensured through contractors for a five-year period and monitored digitally via the eMARG portal.
In Kashmir, PMGSY implementation also made measurable progress. During 2025–26, 109.8 kilometres of roads were completed.
However, no new habitations were connected this year in Kashmir region, as PMGSY-IV Batch-I works for new connectivity were allotted only in November December 2025 and are currently under execution.
Under PMGSY-III in Kashmir, 20 works have been completed so far during the ongoing financial year. Of the 50 schemes targeted for completion, 20 have been physically completed and recorded on the OMMAS portal. The total expenditure incurred in Kashmir under PMGSY stands at ₹70.95 crore till date.
Officials said PMGSY roads have significantly improved access to schools, healthcare facilities, markets and emergency services, particularly in remote and border districts. In 2025, areas such as Poonch, Rajouri, Kishtwar, Doda and Ramban emerged as major beneficiaries.
Officials also said that Government of India has sanctioned 221 PMGSY projects aimed at providing road connectivity to 310 habitations across Jammu and Kashmir, signaling continued focus on rural infrastructure development.
