PMGSY delivers 19,875 km of rural roads in J&K; 3,874 km still pending

Ziraat Times Team Report

Srinagar, July 21: Jammu & Kashmir has emerged as one of the major beneficiaries of the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), with nearly 20,000 kilometres of rural roads completed and 2,132 habitations connected since the launch of the flagship rural connectivity programme, according to information tabled in Parliament.

The data, released by the Ministry of Rural Development in a written reply to the Lok Sabha, shows that 19,875 km of rural roads have been completed in Jammu & Kashmir, making it one of the leading Himalayan regions in terms of PMGSY road connectivity. In neighbouring Ladakh, 1,352 km of roads have been completed, connecting 64 habitations.

At the national level, PMGSY has resulted in the construction of 7,97,020 km of rural roads and connected 1,62,876 habitations across India as of July 16, 2026.

Significant investments in J&K

The latest figures indicate that Jammu & Kashmir continues to receive substantial funding under the programme.

During 2023-24, J&K completed 956 km of roads, with expenditure of ₹1,256.96 crore. In 2024-25, another 775 km of roads were completed at an expenditure of ₹1,070.65 crore.

In 2025-26, the Union Territory received sanction for 1,781 km of roads, while 326 km were completed. Expenditure during the year stood at ₹420.50 crore.

In the current financial year (2026-27 up to July 16), J&K has been sanctioned 1,600 km of additional road works, although only 24 km have been completed so far. Expenditure during the period amounted to ₹186.50 crore.

Despite these gains, the data shows that 3,874 km of sanctioned road works remain under construction or pending completion in J&K, highlighting the scale of unfinished connectivity projects across the Union Territory.

Ladakh continues connectivity expansion

Ladakh, where challenging terrain and harsh weather conditions make infrastructure development particularly difficult, has also witnessed steady progress under PMGSY.

The Union Territory completed 41 km of roads in 2023-24, 38 km in 2024-25, and 236 km in 2025-26. Another 13 km have been completed during the current financial year.

However, 195 km of road projects remain pending or under construction, indicating that significant connectivity gaps still exist in remote areas.

Fresh targets for 2026-27

The Ministry has allocated ambitious physical targets for the current financial year.

Under PMGSY and its associated schemes, Jammu & Kashmir has been assigned a target of 1,084 km of rural roads for 2026-27, while Ladakh has been allocated a target of 209 km.

The targets are part of a nationwide programme aiming to construct or upgrade 26,474 km of rural roads during the current financial year.

Connectivity critical for Himalayan regions

The government noted that PMGSY incorporates special relaxations for Himalayan regions, including Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, recognising the unique challenges posed by difficult terrain, dispersed settlements and adverse weather conditions.

Under the scheme, habitations with populations of 250 or more in Himalayan areas are eligible for all-weather road connectivity, compared to the higher population thresholds applicable in many other parts of the country.

The programme also includes provisions for connectivity in tribal and remote areas through initiatives such as PMGSY-IV and PM-JANMAN.

Maintenance concerns remain

While rural connectivity has expanded significantly over the past two decades, road maintenance remains a key challenge in mountainous regions such as Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, where snowfall, landslides, flash floods and extreme weather often damage road infrastructure.

Under PMGSY guidelines, state and Union Territory governments are responsible for maintaining completed roads. All PMGSY projects include a five-year maintenance contract with the original contractor, followed by long-term zonal maintenance arrangements.

With thousands of kilometres of roads already built and several thousand more under construction, ensuring timely completion and proper maintenance is likely to remain a major priority for authorities in J&K and Ladakh.

The latest figures underline the transformative impact of PMGSY in improving access to remote villages, enhancing mobility, and supporting economic and social development across the Himalayan region, while also highlighting the need to accelerate completion of pending projects and strengthen long-term road maintenance systems.