House passes grants of R&B, I&C, Mining Deptts
*MSME Health Clinic launched in J&K
Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, Feb 12: Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary today said that Jammu and Kashmir has received investment worth over Rs 19,641 crores in industrial sector while 1145 road projects worth Rs 5245 crores have been sanctioned for the Jammu and Kashmir.
Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp
While speaking in the Legislative Assembly on the grants of his Departments including PW(R&B), Industries and Commerce, Labour & Employment, Skill Development and Mining here today, the Dy Chief Minister highlighted the focus on Industries & Commerce to boost investment and MSME growth and efforts under Mission YUVA to promote entrepreneurship and employment in J&K.
He said the quality and extensive road network in Jammu and Kashmir is vital, in view of the topography of the UT and limited scope for development of alternate means of transportation.
Speaking on grants of Public Works Department, Choudhary said the Government has created over 40,000 km of road network in Jammu and Kashmir to improve surface connectivity. He said that 18 major MoRTH projects are in the pipeline during the current financial year. Twenty two strategically important projects, primarily bridges have been inaugurated. Under PMGSY, 3,742 projects having aggregate length of 22,581 km have been sanctioned, 3570 projects have been completed thereby achieving a length of 20250 Km. Besides, the department has identified 2,513 eligible habitations for providing all-weather road connectivity, he added.
The Deputy Chief Minister said 1,145 NABARD projects worth Rs. 5,245 crore have been sanctioned, with 525 completed, including 372 projects completed during the last two years, and 620 ongoing. Under CRIF, 294 projects were sanctioned, with 211 completed up to March 2025 and 83 ongoing and over 100 new projects are in the pipeline.
He further said that 41 projects (32 roads, 9 bridges) have been sanctioned under SASCI, with 4 completed and 37 ongoing. Under Capex 2025-26, 7,068 works were sanctioned, with 3,932 targeted for completion by March 2026.
“The department has received 2276 works having tentative cost of Rs. 2333.7 crore from the Finance Department on account of demand submitted by the MLAs during budget discussion 2025-26,” the Dy CM said.
The Minister said J&K faced unprecedented rainfall during August 2025, damaging the road infrastructure, mostly in Jammu region. The department, aims to restore it permanently and has submitted an estimate of over Rs 1,000 crore to the Finance Department for SASCI funding. In the meantime, the department has authorized the field agencies to initiate execution process for works worth over Rs 500 crore under priority-I,” he said.
Speaking on grants for Industries and Commerce Department, the Dy CM said that this year department is focusing on grounding investments, strengthening MSMEs, easing business, promoting start-ups and protecting traditional sectors like handloom and handicrafts. “Under Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, J&K recorded its highest ever investment realization in a single financial year.
During 2025-26, investments worth Rs 5,349 crore have been grounded till January 2026, which is nearly twelve times the annual average investment prior to 2020,” he said.
Under the Central Industrial Development Package (NCSS) of Rs 28,400 crore, a total of 971 applications involving an investment of Rs 14, 292 crore have been registered.
“Ease of doing business continues to remain a priority. In November 2025, Jammu and Kashmir secured 5th rank at the national level, emerging as a top achiever in the Business Reform Action Plan,” he said.
He said that for the first time, Jammu and Kashmir’s MSME Health Clinic has been launched in collaboration with IIM Jammu. Besides, data of 417 MSME units has been uploaded on the portal and in the first phase, 70 sickness prone units have been identified for focused revival interventions.
He added that MSME formalisation has seen a major push, Udyam registrations have increased to 6 lakh this year. J&K has been ranked second among the Small States, North-Eastern States and Union Territories in the Export Preparedness Index 2024 released by NITI Aayog. He said that during the current financial year, against a target of 6,221 units, 6,144 units have already been established under PMEGP.
On the grants of Mining department, Choudhary said the Government has prioritised effective policy formulation and sustainable mineral resource use, leveraging J&K’s limestone, gypsum, marble and other minerals vital for cement, construction, fertilisers and more. He added that the Government has implemented the Integrated Mining Surveillance System (IMSSS) and Mobile Application Portal to enhance monitoring, transparency and enforcement of mining rules. “Using satellite imaging, GPS, geospatial tools and a Command-and-Control Centre, the system tracks operations and detects illegal mining while e- Challan PoS machines, introduced with J&K Bank, enable on-the-spot penalties”, he said.
A total 3,065 GPS devices have been installed in mineral transport vehicles, with 2,473 linked to the Mining Surveillance System. Over 40 non-compliant vehicles were seized, Rs 2.50 lakh recovered, 7,500 above seizures made and 234 FIRs lodged against the violators this year.
The Department of Geology and Mining has auctioned 238 RBM blocks since 2020-21, granting 208 mining leases. Besides, E-auction of 7 limestone blocks (Anantnag 3, Rajouri 3 & Poonch 1) is underway and 5 more are being processed, expected to generate over Rs 70 crore in 2026-27.
He said that under the SASCI 2025-26 scheme, the government has completed key mining reforms and the Union Ministry for Mines has sanctioned Rs 100 crore as an incentive to the Mining Department.
To improve ease of doing business, several digital reforms and regulatory changes to simplify mining operations have been introduced. “Studies and e-auction of Lithium in Reasi, Lignite and Marble in Kupwara and biogenic shallow gas in the Karewa Basin have been targeted by June 2026 while Sapphire in Paddar and Granite besides Graphite in Doda and Ganderbal are also being prepared for early auctioning,” he said.
He said the Labour and Employment department remains steadfast in its commitment to safeguard the interests of workers and empowering the youth of Jammu and Kashmir through inclusive and reform-oriented policies. About 36.28 lakh unorganized workers have been registered on e-Shram Portal besides 13281 new registrations and 9125 renewals have been made under various Labour Acts through online services.
“The present government is committed to improve the living conditions, safety and welfare of migrant and seasonal labourers from remote areas. Funds amounting Rs 244.64 lakh have been spent on labour Sarais at Rajouri and Kathua which are being completed within this financial year,” Dy CM added.
He said that 1.35 lakh entrepreneurship units are being created which will generate employment for 4.5 lakh youth over the next 5 years.
He said that night shelter facilities have been proposed at Labour Sarai Anantnag, Pulwama and Budgam and a fully equipped Model Labour Sarai at Nowshera is being executed with an estimated cost of Rs 423.39 lakh.
Referring to Skill Development he said that through a robust network of Polytechnics, Industrial Training Institutes and flagship Central schemes, the department is committed towards aligning the skills with market demand while preserving the traditional crafts and encouraging entrepreneurship. He disclosed that 90,000 youth have been trained in traditional and new-age skills, including AI, cyber security and green jobs, supported by Aadhaar-based digital attendance and monitoring systems under PMKVY 4.0. He said that 7851 Self help Group candidates have been trained and Heritage Craft Courses have been revived in 25 units.
“Under the Chief Minister’s Scheme for Heritage Courses a first-of-its-kind initiative in the Union Territory has been introduced in 15 skill institutes across J&K,” he said.
He said that during financial year 2026-27, the Department intends to strengthen the Government Polytechnics at Srinagar, Jammu and the Women Polytechnics at Jammu and Srinagar through procurement of modern machinery, tools and laboratory equipment, strictly as per AICTE norms.
Later, on the assurance of the DyCM the MLAs withdrew their cut motions.
The House then, passed the grants amounting to Rs 5,29, 842.67 lakh for Public Works; Rs 86, 615.70 lakh for Industries and Commerce, Rs 28, 526.22 lakh for Labour and Employment, Rs 19,881.72 lakh for Skill Development and Rs 6,492.81 lakh for Mining Departments through a voice vote.
The post J&K gets investment worth Rs 19641 cr for industry, road works worth Rs 5245 cr sanctioned appeared first on Daily Excelsior.