Around 1,436 kilometres of National Highways have been constructed in Jammu and Kashmir since 2018–19, the Centre informed the Lok Sabha.
According to official data accessed by the news agency, the Union Territory witnessed fluctuating highway construction over the years, with 95 km built in 2018–19, 46 km in 2019–20, 234 km in 2020–21, 263 km in 2021–22, 217 km in 2022–23, 243 km in 2023–24, 214 km in 2024–25 and 124 km during 2025–26 till February.
The Centre also informed that expenditure on development and maintenance of National Highways in Jammu and Kashmir has seen a steady rise in recent years. The spending increased from Rs 2,932 crore in 2020–21 to Rs 6,817 crore in 2021–22, Rs 7,370 crore in 2022–23 and Rs 10,528 crore in 2023–24, before slightly declining to Rs 10,204 crore in 2024–25.
The government said that it is primarily responsible for the development and maintenance of National Highways, while execution is carried out through various agencies.
On road safety, the Centre said that nationwide data indicates a rise in accidents and fatalities on National Highways, with 1.28 lakh accidents and 56,007 deaths reported in 2021, increasing to 1.50 lakh accidents and 64,772 deaths in 2024.
The minister further said that 67 highway stretches across the country have reported major deficiencies in the last three years and the current year. Action against defaulting contractors includes penalties, termination of contracts, debarment and blacklisting, depending on the severity of defects.
The government further informed that 85 National Highway projects, including those under Bharatmala Pariyojana, are delayed by more than three years due to issues such as land acquisition, clearances, utility shifting and financial constraints. "Several measures have been taken to reduce delays, including faster land acquisition through digital platforms, streamlined environmental clearances and regular monitoring of project progress," it said.