Parliament Question: Stalled bridge and tunnel projects in rural J and K

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO - 4248 ANSWERED ON – 01/04/2026 STALLED BRIDGE AND TUNNEL PROJECTS IN RURAL J AND K 4248 SHRI CHOWDRY MOHAMMAD RAMZAN:

Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS be pleased to state:

(a) the reasons why the construction of the Akhal and Tangchatter bridges (Ganderbal), started in 2010, was halted in 2016 and remains pending despite being sanctioned as "languishing projects" in 2018;

(b) the status of the Pir Ki Gali Tunnel project and whether a definitive construction timeline has been established;

(c) reasons as to why several rural road projects, such as the Ramnagar to Chatrari and Mantalai to Dudu roads, have failed to meet their completion targets; and

(d) whether Government is investigating "administrative apathy" as a cause for these decade- long delays? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS (SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI)

(a) to (d) The Government in the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways undertakes feasibility Study/Detailed Project Report (DPR) for improvement/widening/construction of NHs in the country including in the Union Territory (UT) of Jammu and Kashmir. Decision for project implementation and investment is taken based on the outcome of DPR, requirement of connectivity, traffic density and synergy with PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan.

The work for preparation of Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the Pir Ki Gali Tunnel project has been awarded and alignment selection stage has commenced.

The Akhal and Tangchatter bridges are not located on NHs and are roads of the Union Territory (UT). Both the bridges have been constructed as 2 Lane bridges by UT Government. Further, the stretch from Ramnagar to Chatrari is a local road and responsibility for its construction and maintenance rests with the UT of Jammu & Kashmir.

As per information received from Jammu and Kashmir Rural Road Development Authority (JKRRDA), the stretch from Mantalai to Dudu road from 5.000 to 20.606 having a length of 15.606 km is an Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) road, which was completed in December, 2023 and is presently in 3rd year of maintenance. The road sustained damages due to flash floods and heavy rainfall in August, 2025. However, it has since been restored on a temporary basis to ensure connectivity. For permanent restoration of the damaged stretch, an amount of Rs. 62.30 lakh was authorized and the work has since been completed.

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