Srinagar, Sep 17, : Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Thursday credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership for what he described as significant infrastructure and welfare-related changes in Jammu and Kashmir, saying road and tunnel projects worth more than ₹1.5 lakh crore are currently underway in the Union Territory.Speaking to reporters in Srinagar on Modi’s birthday, Sinha said Jammu and Kashmir had witnessed major changes in infrastructure, welfare delivery and connectivity. He particularly referred to roads, tunnels and the long-awaited railway connection between Kashmir and the rest of the country.The LG said the development of infrastructure in J&K had been significant over the past 12 years and attributed the progress to Modi’s leadership. He said projects worth more than ₹1.5 lakh crore involving roads and tunnels were currently underway.The figure comes amid a continuing infrastructure expansion in the Union Territory. The Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways said in June that highway projects worth approximately ₹1.35 lakh crore, covering completed, ongoing and upcoming works, were being implemented across Jammu and Kashmir.Sinha also pointed to the completion of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link as the fulfilment of a long-standing objective of connecting the Kashmir Valley with the national railway network. The 272-km USBRL was commissioned in 2026 and includes 36 tunnels and 943 bridges, according to the Union government.The LG said the infrastructure push was accompanied by the implementation of central welfare programmes in J&K. Referring to national figures, he cited free foodgrain distribution to around 80 crore people, LPG connections to nearly 11 crore households and housing sanctioned under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, while saying that these programmes had also been implemented in Jammu and Kashmir.Sinha also said Jammu and Kashmir had moved beyond what he described as earlier discrimination and highlighted the changes being witnessed by the younger generation.His remarks came as the Union government and the BJP began a month-long programme to mark Modi’s 76th birthday and his 25 years in public life. Sinha appealed to people in J&K to participate in the programmes being organised during the month.Sinha concluded by urging people in Jammu and Kashmir to participate in the month-long programmes marking Modi’s birthday, saying the celebrations should reflect the changes taking place in the country and the Union Territory. [KNT]
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