Mega infrastructure projects anywhere in the world are complex, multi-layered undertakings. In Jammu & Kashmir, that complexity is multiplied by geography, weather, security sensitivities, legacy administrative inertia and long-standing legal and political entanglements. Land acquisition disputes, environmental and forest clearances, rehabilitation and relocation of affected families, availability of road access, power supply, and coordination among multiple departments often turn even well-intentioned projects into decade-long sagas. Against this backdrop, the PRAGATI platform has emerged as a decisive game-changer, redefining how large projects are monitored, issues resolved, and timelines enforced.
The Chief Secretary’s briefing on PRAGATI’s impact in J&K offers a compelling snapshot of this transformation. With projects worth over Rs 4.12 lakh crore currently under monitoring and 57 of 59 issues already resolved, PRAGATI has demonstrated that delays in mega projects are not inevitable-they are often a product of fragmented accountability and weak follow-up. By placing critical projects under the direct gaze of the Prime Minister and the Prime Minister’s Group, PRAGATI has injected urgency, authority and coherence into a system that once moved at a glacial pace.
The Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link is perhaps the most powerful illustration of this shift. Trapped by geological challenges, funding bottlenecks and interdepartmental paralysis. Under PRAGATI’s high-level intervention, bureaucratic silos were cut through, timely decision-making was forced, and coordination across agencies was ensured. The result is now visible to all.
PRAGATI’s real strength lies in its ability to address the “last-mile” problems that typically derail mega projects. Land acquisition disputes that would otherwise linger for years are fast-tracked through direct review. Environmental and forest clearance issues are resolved through coordinated action rather than file-pushing. Financial constraints, contractor disputes and local administrative hurdles are flagged early and addressed at the highest level. Importantly, the emphasis is not just on speed but on fairness-ensuring timely compensation and rehabilitation for affected families, thereby reducing resistance on the ground.
In today’s evolving geopolitical context, the significance of fast-tracking projects in J&K and Ladakh cannot be overstated. Connectivity projects like the Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway Corridor, the widening of NH-44, and improved rail and telecom networks are critical for both civilian mobility and strategic logistics. That these projects are progressing largely on schedule is a direct reflection of sustained monitoring through PRAGATI. With the Indus Waters Treaty effectively in abeyance and the Government pushing to fully utilise India’s legitimate water resources, there is little room for delay or complacency. Hydroelectric projects, traditionally prone to prolonged delays due to environmental and local issues, are now moving with renewed momentum. The completion of the Kishanganga Hydroelectric Project and the fast-tracking of projects like Ratle and Pakul Dul under PRAGATI underline how strategic priorities are being translated into time-bound outcomes.
The benefits of this approach extend across sectors. AIIMS Jammu and AIIMS Awantipora are strengthening healthcare infrastructure in a region that has long suffered from limited tertiary medical facilities. Power transmission lines connecting remote and strategically vital areas like Ladakh are nearing completion. Mobile connectivity under the USOF programme is shrinking the digital divide. Each of these projects, while different in nature, shares a common thread: close, outcome-oriented monitoring that leaves little space for drift.
Beyond individual projects, PRAGATI signals a move from reactive administration to proactive problem-solving, from procedural compliance to outcome delivery. The fact that J&K ranks among the top performers nationally in resolving PRAGATI issues reflects central oversight. More than Rs 4.12 lakh crore worth of projects under monitoring across J&K and Ladakh is not merely a statistic-it is a measure of ambition and intent. Decades of developmental gaps are being bridged in a matter of years, translating into shorter distances, world-class infrastructure, improved social services and expanding economic opportunities. The transformation is increasingly visible on the ground, and its dividends are being reaped by the people. The development journey of J&K is far from complete, but the trajectory is unmistakably upward. With PRAGATI providing the institutional backbone and the Prime Minister’s vision offering strategic direction, the region’s “dream run” of development appears firmly on track. In this new governance paradigm, delays are no longer destiny-and the sky, indeed, seems to be the limit.
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