Jammu & Kashmir is set to witness a significant milestone in its development journey tomorrow, as Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers Welfare and Rural Development, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, will launch Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY)-IV, Batch-II at a special programme at SKICC, Srinagar. The event will also be attended by Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary, and other senior dignitaries, making it not just an administrative occasion but a major public platform symbolizing a collective commitment to development.
Since 2000, under PMGSY, Jammu & Kashmir has witnessed the construction of 3,328 roads, creating a road network of 19,851 kilometers, along with 257 bridges.
Building on this progress, PMGSY-IV, Batch-II will further accelerate development with the construction of 330 new roads covering 1,600 kilometers, at a project cost of Rs 3,550 crore, benefiting 363 habitations across the region. Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan stated that under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the initiative reflects the Government’s commitment to moving beyond announcements and delivering tangible development on the ground.
He emphasized that the focus is on ensuring that roads, services and other facilities reach even the remotest villages. He also underlined that infrastructure development is being viewed as a key driver to further integrate Jammu & Kashmir into the national development mainstream.
The programme, scheduled to begin at 11:00 AM on April 28, will also see the Union Minister handing over the approval letter for PMGSY-IV, Batch-II to the Chief Minister. In addition, approvals under DAY-NRLM will be released, reaffirming the Centre’s commitment to creating 'Lakhpati Didis' in Jammu & Kashmir.
The visit reflects a broader focus that goes beyond road construction, encompassing rural economic growth, women’s self-help groups, and social empowerment. Currently, nearly 96,000 Self-Help Groups, 7,500 Village Organizations, and 650 Cluster-Level Federations are actively strengthening the rural livelihoods ecosystem in Jammu & Kashmir.
Through the efforts of thousands of Community Resource Persons, along with initiatives in skill development, entrepreneurship, and women-led leadership, a new environment of confidence and income generation is being fostered in rural communities.
From the perspective of the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, farmers in Jammu & Kashmir are being supported through multiple flagship schemes, including PM-Kisan, Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, Agriculture Infrastructure Fund, Horticulture Mission, Farmer Producer Organizations, e-NAM, and micro-irrigation initiatives. In this broader context, Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s visit also carries a strong message of trust, participation, and results-oriented governance for farmers, horticulturists, rural families, and women’s groups.