On August 30, 2026, Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology, Earth Sciences and several other portfolios, formally laid the foundation stone for a suite of rural road projects under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) in Jammu, with an estimated outlay of ₹1,503 crore.
The projects span the Udhampur‑Kathua‑Doda parliamentary constituency, targeting over 1,200 kilometres of new or upgraded all‑weather roads that will link remote villages to market centres, health facilities and schools. The minister highlighted that the constituency has received heightened focus over the past 12 years, especially in the last five, citing accelerated fund allocation and faster clearances.
Construction will be overseen by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways in partnership with the Jammu & Kashmir state government, with contracts awarded to vetted local contractors. The initiative aligns with the central government's broader push to improve rural connectivity in border‑proximate regions, aiming to boost economic activity and reduce migration.
