The Union Minister for Railways, Commerce and Industries, Shri Piyush Goyal today said that the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir will see a new sunrise in the development post the abrogation of Article 370. During the second day of the Central Government’s special public outreach programme to disseminate information about the implementation of its policies and programmes for the overall development of Jammu and Kashmir and its people at Akhnoor, Shri Piyush Goyal said that a new wave of development has started in the union territory of J&K which they have been deprived of from the last seventy two years because of a stumble block called Article 370.

Calling the union territory of J&K as “Desh Ka Noor”, the Minister said that every stuck up project has now been cleared which will set a new crack of dawn in the UT of J&K. Giving an insight into the various centrally sponsored schemes and their implementation in the UT of J&K, the Minister said that there has been a great success in their implementation like the Saubhagya scheme under which 3,30000 households have been electrified and a 100 crore special award under this scheme has been awarded to the UT of J&K and reiterated that the govt. wants to electrify even the last household in the UT of J&K. With respect to other centrally sponsored schemes implemented in the UT of J&K, Shri Piyush Goyal said that the UT of J&K has done wonderfully well in Ayushman Bharat Scheme, Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY), and Ujjwala Yojana etc. Giving statistics about the implementation of these schemes, Shri Piyush Goyal said that the UT of J&K stood first in the implementation of Ayushman Bharat Scheme, 18534 houses have been constructed under PMAY, 2.5 lac toilets were constructed under Swach Bharat and Ujjwala scheme has reached to its hundred percent target in Jammu and Kashmir. Reiterating that the benefit of schemes should reach its actual beneficiaries, the Minister said that as per the latest figures available, out of 9 lac 30 thousand beneficiaries, more than 7 lac beneficiaries have been benefited under these schemes. And, it is expected to reach 100 percent only in few months, he added.

Speaking about the various stuck up hydropower projects of the UT of J&K; the Minister said that Pakaldul Hydroelectric Power Project that was stuck up from the last 8 years has now been cleared. 850 MW Ratle Hydroelectric Power Project and 624 MW Kiru Hydroelectric Power Project have also been cleared, he added. 

Related to the various development works done by the Government, the Minister said that the highest bridge in the world is being constructed on Chenab in J&K which is an architectural marvel. The minister also said that the work on Banihal-Katra project has been expedited by the govt. The real aim of the central govt. is now to connect India from Kashmir to Kanyakumari which is only possible under the leadership of the Prime Minister of India, he added. He further said that the completion of this important project will be a blessing for UT of J&K as it has a great scope to boost the economy, will support its various industries as well. Giving details, the Minister said that the Chenani Sud Mahadev project will be completed in May 2021, work on Ram Bag flyover has been completed, thousands of Kilometers of road have been constructed under PMGSY, construction of Ring road in Jammu will be completed upto the end of this year and the work on Jammu Akhnoor Road has started this year. Reiterating Prime Minister’s seriousness towards the development of UT of J&K, the Minister said that in the last 18 months, out of 54 projects taken, 14 projects have been completed, work on 32 projects is going on, 4 projects are in the DPR stage and only 1 project is under process. The Minister also said that the govt. has planned to organize an investment summit in the UT of J&K which will draw a new investment map for it on modern levels.

The important irrigation projects have also been taken seriously by the govt., he said. Giving details, the Minister said that the Shahpur Kandi Project that was stuck up from the last seventy years has now been cleared which will now irrigate 54000 hectares of land and will generate 770 MW of hydroelectricity and the Uj multipurpose project that was kept in the cold storage has now been cleared which will irrigate 31000 hectares of agricultural land and will generate 196 MW of hydroelectricity.

Talking about skill development projects in the UT of J&K, the Minister said that the Himayat Yojana is now doing wonders in J&K and as of now 12000 candidates have been trained under it and 7801 are under training now. In the health sector, the minister said that the work on two AIIMS has started; five new medical colleges have been established that added 500 new medical seats for the aspirants.

Giving details of Railway Development in the UT of J&K, the Minister said that Vande Bharat Express has started between Delhi and Katra and the work on Katra Banihal railway project has been expedited for the welfare of the people.

Earlier, during his visit, the Minister inaugurated the protection work of 300 meters at Gurki Dakki, Jia Porta, Akhnoor along the bank of river Chenab constructed at an estimated cost of 324.58 Lac rupees in presence of the Member of Parliament Shri Jugal Kishore. He also e-inaugurated an indoor sports hall near BHSS, Akhnoor constructed at an estimated cost of 195 Lac rupees.

As a part of this outreach programme, spanning over a week, 38 Union Ministers will undertake an extensive tour of different districts across 60 different locations in both the divisions of Jammu and Kashmir. The objective of the visit is to disseminate the information about the importance of the government policies with regard to the overall development of J&K and its people along with steps taken in this direction in the last five months. The outreach programme will cover five themes viz rapid development after President’s rule from June 2018 and after Reorganization in August 2019, hundred percent coverage of 55 beneficiary oriented schemes to all the residents of J&K, rapid infrastructural development including implementation of PMDP, flagship schemes and iconic projects, good governance and rule of law with equality of opportunity to all in rapid industrial and economic growth in all sectors with a focus on incomes and employment.