J&K Budget Session 2026: Government to Fast-Track Forest Clearances for Accelerated Road Development

JAMMU, February 04, 2026 — During the Question Hour of the 2026 Budget Session, Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary affirmed the government’s commitment to streamlining administrative hurdles by expediting forest clearances to ensure the rapid expansion of Jammu and Kashmir’s road infrastructure.

Responding to a query by Legislator Payare Lal Sharma, the Deputy Chief Minister revealed a favorable 90:10 funding pattern for the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) IV, where the Central Government will bear 90% of the project costs.

He emphasized that the UT administration is proactively engaging with various agencies to facilitate “hassle-free” execution and clarified that the Union Territory remains responsible for providing encumbrance-free land and managing all necessary land acquisition compensation.

The session, which saw further input from Legislators Nazir Ahmad Khan and Balwant Singh Mankotia, underscored a strategic focus on rural connectivity and the removal of longstanding bottlenecks to transform the region’s transport landscape.