PM Narendra Modi announces Rs 8,000 crore for building roads in Jammu and Kashmir

Leh: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday announced a package of Rs 8,000 crore for building of roads in Jammu and Kashmir and waiver of Rs 60 crore in interest owed by the state government to the Food Corporation of India.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had flagged the issue during his recent meetings with the central leadership and the Prime Minister, who was here on a day-long visit, announced he will push for the proposal in the union cabinet for granting Rs 8,000 crore to the state.

Modi said at a public rally that "I assure you that I will soon push in the Union Cabinet Rs 8,000 crore project needed for four important roads in the state."

Omar had last month met Road and Surface Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari and pressed for early completion of Batote-Kishtwar road, Kargil-Zanskar, Domail-Katra road besides fast tracking the four-laning of Srinagar-Jammu National Highway. All these roads of vital importance were in bad shape at some places due to lack of proper maintenance.

Omar had also sought construction of four tunnels in Jammu and Kashmir to link important roads, which included a tunnel at Peer Ki Gali on Mughal Road, a tunnel to connect Singhpora in Kishtwar to Vailoo in Anantnag and two tunnels between Lolab-Bandipora and Sudh Mahadev-Marmat.

The Prime Minister also announced waiving of Rs 60 crore owed by the state government to the Food Corporation of India. The Union Cabinet had recently written off the Rs 60 crore of interest amount to be paid by the state Government to the FCI for purchase of foodgrains on credit in 1999-2002.

The FCI had supplied foodgrains on credit between 1999 and 2002 to Jammu and Kashmir. The state government has already paid the cost of foodgrains and had requested the Centre to write off the interest payment.