Pahalgam terror attack comes at a time of mega infra push in J&K, from hospitals to highways

The Pahalgam terror attack has damaged Jammu & Kashmir’s tourism prospects, a mainstay of the economy that had just started looking up, given the momentum in economic development, driven by infrastructure development and business-friendly initiatives.

The terror attack in Pahalgam has come at a time when Jammu and Kashmir has seen a concerted push in the last few years to attract investment for development and enable greater connectivity within the Union Territory, with some of India’s most ambitious projects in the works to bridge the infrastructure deficit.

During the last five years, 40 infrastructure projects have been announced in critical areas of highways and railways, with an aim to increase year-round connectivity. In fact, Prime Minister Modi was to visit Srinagar on April 19 to flag off the Vande Bharat Express from Katra to Srinagar, which was postponed due to bad weather. Currently, time taken to travel from Katra - the base town of the revered Vaishno Devi shrine - to Srinagar takes around 6-7 hours by road, which will soon be cut down to just three hours by the Vande Bharat Express.

The Centre is executing 51 mega projects in Jammu & Kashmir, initially estimated at Rs 76,000 crore, the costs of which have risen by 56 percent to Rs 1.16 trillion due to delays, according to the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI).

In January this year, PM Modi in a public address in Srinagar had talked about Jammu and Kashmir’s transformation into a hub of infrastructure development, highlighting an array of ongoing projects. “Our Jammu and Kashmir is becoming a hub of tunnels, bridges, and ropeways. Effects of an atmosphere of peace in Jammu and Kashmir are visible with thriving tourism. Kashmir is writing a new saga of development today,” Modi said on January 13 at the inauguration of the Sonamarg tunnel, built to improve connectivity to the tourist hub.

“For decades, J&K's rugged geography posed a challenge to trade, tourism and mobility. However, this narrative is changing. Today, the region is witnessing rapid progress in roads, highways, tunnels, bridges, revolutionising connectivity and improving lives,” Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari had said on March 9.

Read More: Pahalgam terror attack may derail tourism, investments into Jammu and Kashmir

Here is a list of some of the big-ticket projects in the Union Territory of J&K across sectors.

AIIMS-like Hospitals

The central government is undertaking several initiatives to enhance healthcare infrastructure in Jammu and Kashmir, including the construction of new hospitals and upgrades to existing facilities. This includes the establishment of two AIIMS-like institutions in the capital cities.

Additionally, the government also has plans to make 50-bed AYUSH hospitals operational in every district, to offer therapies in ancient healing traditions.

Zojila Tunnel - Asia’s Longest Bi-directional Tunnel

The 13-kilometre-long tunnel, set for completion by 2026, will become the longest in Asia and will run through sub-zero temperature zones at an altitude of 11,643 feet, providing all-weather connectivity between the Kashmir valley and Ladakh region.

Read More: L-G Manoj Sinha credits Centre's incentive scheme for J&K's industrial boom

Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway

This Rs 41,000 crore, 670-km expressway proposes to reduce travel time between Delhi, Punjab and Jammu Kashmir, boosting connectivity and economic development. The entire expressway is expected to be fully completed by April, 2027.

Chenab Rail Bridge 

The iconic Chenab rail bridge is a part of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL), both of which were supposed to be inaugurated by PM Modi on April 19.

The bridge is being positioned as the ‘world’s highest railway bridge’ at 359 metres above the riverbed, and will connect the Kashmir Valley to the rest of the country.

Vande Bharat Express

The Katra to Srinagar Vande Bharat Express train will cut the Katra-Srinagar journey to just three hours, compared to the current 6-7 hours by road. It was supposed to be launched this month and is now likely to be delayed, following the Pahalgam terror attack. The train will have features like heating systems, anti-spall layers, and automatic doors. The train is designed to operate smoothly in weather as cold as minus 20 degrees Celsius.

Hydropower Projects

Several large-scale hydropower projects totalling about 6,000 megawatts (MW) are planned in Jammu and Kashmir, primarily on the Chenab and Jhelum rivers, to increase electricity generation and meet the region's energy demands. These projects include Pakal Dul, Kiru, Kwar, and Ratle - all under construction. Additionally, the government plans to initiate seven more mega projects and has already tendered others for execution.

Z-Morh Tunnel

The 6.5 km-long Z-Morh tunnel, now renamed the Sonamarg tunnel, was inaugurated by PM Modi in January this year. The tunnel will provide all-weather connectivity to Sonamarg, a famous tourist destination on the Srinagar-Leh highway

54 Ropeway Projects

To enhance tourism, 54 ropeway projects are in development in the region, with an initial Rs 2,000 crore investment. The Shankaracharya Temple Ropeway in Srinagar and the Baltal to Amarnathji ropeway will significantly improve accessibility for pilgrims and tourists.

J&K Rail Link Project Dharam

The Dharam-Banihal section of the Jammu & Kashmir Rail Link Project is part of the Katra-Banihal section of the USBRL project.

The project is a national initiative to connect the Kashmir Valley to the rest of India by rail. The Dharam-Banihal section includes a Tunnel Communication System that provides uninterrupted radio communication between handheld devices and base stations.