The Biz Reporter
JAMMU, Dec 30: Union Minister of Road, Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, announced today that the Government has allocated Rs 1,170.16 crore for 29 road projects in the Union Territory of Ladakh. These projects aim to enhance connectivity, benefiting both the local population and supporting the movements of defense forces engaged in the standoff with China’s PLA along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh for over three and a half years.
Gadkari revealed the allocation through a Social Media post, specifying that the funds cover a range of initiatives, including State Highways and major roads in Ladakh. Additionally, Rs 181.71 crore has been earmarked for 8 bridges under the Central Road and Infrastructure Fund (CRIF) scheme for the fiscal year 2023-24.
Ladakh, the largest Union Territory in terms of area and the second least populous in the country, is expected to witness improved connectivity to its remote villages, fostering economic activities in agriculture and tourism. Gadkari emphasized that these developments contribute to the overall infrastructural growth of Ladakh.
The CRIF scheme, introduced in Jammu and Kashmir in 2000-01, focuses on developing and maintaining National Highways, State roads, rural roads, and Railways. Resources under the scheme have been allocated over the years for construction and upgradation.
In September, Gadkari had announced the upgrade and widening of the 230km-long Kargil-Zanskar road in Ladakh, part of National Highway 301. He also highlighted that, under the ‘Bharatmala Pariyojana,’ a total of Rs 5.35 trillion has been approved for the development of 34,800 km of National Highway corridors. As of November 2023, projects covering 26,418 km have been awarded, and 15,045 km length has been completed, with a total expenditure of Rs 4.10 trillion under the Bharatmala Pariyojana up till October.
