Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo Reviews ₹7,000 Crore NABARD RIDF Infrastructure Projects in J&K

JAMMU, January 20, 2026 — Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo today chaired a High Powered Committee meeting to conduct a comprehensive review of the Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF) projects, which currently encompass 1,426 sanctioned works valued at approximately ₹6,981 crore.

During the session, the Chief Secretary emphasized the critical need for timely completion of projects under tranches XXVI and XXVII and directed all departments to finalize new proposals for RIDF XXXI by the end of February 2026. Highlighting the importance of modern monitoring tools, he instructed executing agencies to upload all ongoing projects onto the PM Gati Shakti portal to facilitate better utility analysis.

Dulloo further cautioned departments against administrative delays, noting that failure to secure remaining tranches from NABARD could lead to liabilities that burden the Union Territory’s standard Capex budget.

The meeting also highlighted a significant improvement in financial discipline, with overall expenditure efficiency rising from 56% in 2022–23 to 76% in the 2024–25 period. For the current fiscal year, an allocation of ₹1,816 crore has been set aside to ensure the completion of critical infrastructure across various sectors.

The Public Works Department (R&B) leads the portfolio with 1,145 projects worth ₹5,249 crore, followed by substantial investments in Jal Shakti (₹740 crore), Agriculture (₹517 crore), and Animal Husbandry (₹203 crore).

With 333 projects already completed, the Chief Secretary reiterated that strict adherence to timelines and the prompt submission of Project Completion Reports are essential to maintaining the momentum of grassroots development and ensuring the continued flow of institutional credit for J&K’s rural transformation.