J&K Assembly Highlights: Major Infrastructure Deadlines and Environmental Initiatives Revealed During Question Hour
JAMMU, March 30, 2026: In a detailed session of the Legislative Assembly, Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary announced that the Jammu-Akhnoor four-lane project on NH-144A is nearing its final stages, with a phased completion target set for mid-2026.
While Package-II is already operational, Package-I is slated for completion by March 31, 2026, followed by Package-IIIA in April and Package-IIIB by July 2026.
The Deputy CM addressed the various bottlenecks that hindered progress, including the challenges of working in densely populated urban areas, traffic congestion, unseasonal rainfall, and delays in land acquisition.
He emphasized that despite these technical and environmental constraints, the government is accelerating resource mobilization to ensure the highway becomes fully functional for the public by the summer of 2026.
Simultaneously, the Government detailed a massive financial layout for the preservation of Jammu and Kashmir’s iconic water bodies. Minister Sakeena Itoo informed the House that ₹15.03 crore is being utilized for the beautification of Brari-Nambal, while a specialized ₹212.38 crore project, vetted by IIT Roorkee, has been approved for the Dal-Nigeen Lake ecosystem to tackle pollution and encroachment.
This includes the rehabilitation of over 3,100 families and the connection of 721 houseboats to Sewage Treatment Plants.
On the water conservation front, Minister Javed Ahmed Rana highlighted that ₹155.47 crore has been sanctioned for Wular Lake’s management over the last five years, with 170 wetlands already GIS-mapped to provide enhanced legal protection and prevent illegal dumping.
The session also addressed critical welfare and healthcare updates, with the Deputy Chief Minister revealing that 6,000 additional transit accommodations are currently under construction for PM Package employees in Kashmir.
To improve living conditions for migrants in Jammu, a ₹84.90 crore DPR has been prepared for the comprehensive renovation of camps at Jagti, Nagrota, and Muthi.
In healthcare, Minister Sakeena Itoo confirmed that services from the aging Gandhi Nagar Hospital have been successfully transitioned to a modern 200-bedded MCH building after the original 65-year-old structure was declared unsafe.
Additionally, the government reaffirmed its commitment to the agricultural sector by outlining modernization plans for the Brengi Canal in Dooru and confirming that municipal waste in Udhampur is being managed through scientific methods at the Mand site to prevent any environmental degradation of the Tawi River.