Rs 223 crore proposal to cover 558 km
CM’s Ganderbal constituency, Advisor’s hometown Kupwara get lion’s share
Ovaise Gul
Srinagar, May 14: Roads across Kashmir are set for a major facelift as the government has approved a massive macadamisation plan this year.
The Public Works (Roads and Building) Department has cleared a plan estimated at around Rs 223 crore, including a proposed allocation of nearly Rs 155.83 crore for the macadamisation process, according to documents available with Rising Kashmir.
A total of 558.76 kilometres of roads across Kashmir are slated to be macadamized this year, including 178.60 km in central Kashmir, 194.60 km in north Kashmir, and 185.56 km in south Kashmir.
As per the figures, 178.60 km of roads in central Kashmir are set to be macadamised at the estimated cost of Rs 7140.00 lakh (Rs 71.40 crore) with a proposed allocation of Rs 4995.50 lakh (Rs 49.9 crore).
In north Kashmir, a total of 194.60 km of roads have been figured in the approval plan at the estimated cost of Rs 7784.00 lakh (Rs 77.84 crore) with the proposed allocation of Rs 5248.80 lakh (Rs 52.48 crore).
The data reveals that 185.56 km of roads will be macadamized at an estimated cost of Rs 7422.40 lakh (Rs 74.22 crore) with the proposed allocation of Rs 5951.68 (Rs 59.51 crore) this year.
The highest number of kilometres of roads are to be macadamized in Advisor to Chief Minister Nasir Aslam Wani’s home constituency, Kupwara and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s own constituency, Ganderbal.
A total of 20.45 km of roads at an estimated cost of Rs 818 lakh (Rs 8.18 crore) with the proposed allocation of Rs 574.60 lakh (Rs 5.74 crore) are to be macadamized in Kupwara Assembly segment followed by Ganderbal with 18.75 km of roads at an estimated cost of Rs 750 lakh (Rs 7.50 crore) with the proposed allocation of Rs 513.00 lakh (Rs 5.15 crore).
The action plan under the Cities and Towns (C&T) Sector Capex Budget 2026-27 has been forwarded to Chief Engineers of all three zones. The Roads & Buildings Department has been authorised to process Administrative Approval and Technical Sanction and initiate tendering.
The government has mandated e-tendering for all contracts, prohibited fragmentation or splitting of works during tendering, and allowed only registered contractors to participate. Contractors must deposit the required security amount within 10 days of issuance of the Letter of Intent.
No duplication or overlapping with agencies like NHAI, NHIDCL, JMC, SMC, Beacon, or Sampark will be allowed. Chief Engineers and field officers have been directed to personally supervise and periodically inspect works to ensure timely completion and quality control. No road falling under the Defect Liability Period will be taken up again for macadamization or repairs.