JAMMU, FEBRUARY 07, 2026: During the ongoing Legislative Assembly session, Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary addressed several key infrastructure concerns, stating that the government is open to evaluating the creation of a new Roads & Buildings (R&B) sub-division for the Ajas area in Bandipora district.
Responding to a query by Legislator Hilal Akbar Lone, the Deputy CM noted that while no formal proposal is currently on the table, the department will examine the feasibility of such an administrative expansion in due course to better serve the local population’s infrastructure needs.
Turning to the development of tourism and rural connectivity, the Deputy Chief Minister informed the House that proposals for additional infrastructure at Latti and Patnitop are currently under active examination.
While replying to MLA Balwant Singh Mankotia, Choudhary explained that these projects are subject to technical feasibility and the availability of resources. He highlighted that the Union Territory regularly seeks financial assistance through NABARD’s Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF).
These projects are submitted in phases, depending on the readiness of the project and the government’s repayment capacity, ensuring strict adherence to NABARD’s financial guidelines.Addressing concerns regarding infrastructure delays raised by Legislator Nazir Ahmad Khan and others, the Deputy CM identified the primary bottlenecks in project completion.
He pointed out that delays in the disbursement of land compensation are often caused by ongoing court litigation, complex land ownership disputes, and intermittent funding gaps at specific stages of the compensation process.
The government, he assured, is working to streamline these procedural hurdles to ensure timely project delivery across the Jammu and Kashmir regions.
