Union Minister of State Jitendra Singh on Saturday laid the foundation stone for 110 road projects across the Udhampur-Kathua-Doda-Kishtwar region of Jammu & Kashmir, sanctioned at a total cost of ₹1,503.53 crore under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY-IV), Batch-I of 2026-27.
The projects will cover 598.455 km and are expected to benefit around 46,972 people, significantly improving road connectivity to remote and previously difficult-to-access villages.
According to Singh, Udhampur has consistently remained among the top three districts in the country in terms of PMGSY road projects, with the constituency receiving sustained priority under the scheme over the past 12 years.
The district-wise allocation includes 24 projects in Kathua, covering 128.925 km at a cost of approximately ₹307.12 crore; 44 projects in Udhampur, covering 235.040 km at ₹554.90 crore; 13 projects in Ramban, covering 60.360 km at ₹154.97 crore; 13 projects in Doda, covering 90.180 km at ₹260.66 crore; and 16 projects in Kishtwar, covering 83.950 km at ₹224.88 crore.
Singh said the road expansion programme would improve access to essential services and create new economic opportunities for people living in remote areas. Better roads are expected to particularly benefit senior citizens, schoolchildren and women, who have faced difficulties travelling during the rainy season because of poor road conditions.
The minister also highlighted the strategic importance of the projects, saying improved connectivity would enable faster movement of security forces in difficult terrain, strengthening anti-militancy and counter-terror operations while accelerating development in rural communities.
The projects are expected to provide a major boost to rural mobility, access to healthcare and education, local economic activity and overall regional development across the five districts.