NHs length increase by 363 kms in J&K, Ladakh: Govt

9 wayside amenities coming up on J&K highways

Jammu: The government has said that the length of national highways passing through northernmost union territories Jammu – Kashmir and Ladakh have risen to 2682 kilometers with addition of 363 kilometers of roads in over nine years since 2014.

Moreover, the government also planned to develop nine wayside amenities (WSA) on the existing J&K highway and upcoming Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway to make travel more convenient for road users.

Replying to a series of questions in the parliament, the government said that the total length of national highways passing through erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir (including Ladakh) was 2319 km in March 2014.

“The length of NH’s in J&K was 2319 while it was augmented to 2682 km, including 1876 km passing through UT of Jammu and Kashmir while rest 806 kms in Ladakh by the end of February 2023,” the reply reads.

Moreover, earlier in a communication, the government has said that the center planned to develop wayside amenities (WSA) at more than 600 locations, including nine in J&K on National Highways and Expressways by FY 2024-25.

These nine sites will be developed at every 40-60 km of current and upcoming National Highways and upcoming Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway to make travel more convenient for commuters.

The amenities will include numerous facilities for passengers such as Fuel Station, Electric Charging Facilities, Food Court, Retail Shops, Bank ATM, Children Play Area, Medical Clinic, Childcare room, Toilets with shower facility, Vehicle repair facility, Driver Dormitory, Village Hatt for promotion of local handicrafts etc.

Moreover, the government also said that the total length of National Highways (NHs) in the country has increased from about 91,287 km in March, 2014 to about 1,45,155 km at present.