Srinagar, Aug 21 (KNO): The Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has provided a comprehensive account of road development under the Central Road and Infrastructure Fund (CRIF) over the last five years, highlighting both progress and constraints in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
Responding to a question by Priyanka Gandhi Vadra in the Lok Sabha, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, as reported by the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), said the Ministry has adopted a structured mechanism for identifying road infrastructure projects under CRIF, aligned with the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan.
He said projects are selected based on proposals submitted by the States and Union Territories, which are then prioritised and sanctioned by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH).
For Jammu and Kashmir, the data shows a steady increase in CRIF accruals and fund utilisation over the past five years. In 2020-21, J&K accrued Rs 94.51 crore under CRIF, of which Rs 79.40 crore was released.
This grew significantly in 2021-22, when Rs 96.91 crore was accrued and Rs 321.18 crore was released — indicating a substantial central push to infrastructure in the region post the reorganisation of the erstwhile state.
The upward trend continued in 2022-23, with Rs 113.61 crore accrued and Rs 343.61 crore released, according to the reply.
In the financial years 2023-24 and 2024-25, although accruals increased to Rs 128.67 crore annually, the fund release showed a moderate drop — Rs 206.67 crore in 2023-24 and Rs 128.67 crore so far in 2024-25.
The consistent flow of funds underlines the government's commitment to boosting connectivity and infrastructure in J&K, despite administrative and logistical challenges, the Ministry said.
Under CRIF, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways primarily focuses on the development and maintenance of State roads, with the State Government responsible for project execution and monitoring, Gadkari said.
He said the Ministry releases funds based on utilisation certificates submitted by the UT government for earlier disbursals.
Additionally, the Ministry of Railways, which also receives CRIF allocations, has prioritised safety-related infrastructure such as Road Over Bridges (ROBs) and Road Under Bridges (RUBs). Though specific numbers for J&K were not mentioned in the latest data, the national focus on replacing level crossings with ROBs/RUBs indicates likely ongoing or proposed works in the Union Territory as well.
The CRIF also contributes to rural connectivity via the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), although that funding and execution fall under the Ministry of Rural Development, the Ministry said.
While J&K has benefited from increased CRIF releases, the scheme operates within constraints — particularly the Bank of Sanction (BoS) mechanism, which ensures new proposals are taken up only when adequate fiscal space exists.
The current BoS for several states, including J&K, limits the scope for fresh approvals unless existing liabilities are cleared—(KNO)