Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinhalauded the transformative vision of Prime Minister NarendraModi during a landmark event at Bakshi Stadium, Srinagar, stating that every citizen of the Union Territory (UT) now has the opportunity to live life according to their aspirations.
Addressing a diverse gathering during the Prime Minister’s visit, Sinhahighlighted the developmental initiatives taken up in Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370. “No more youth are hit by pellets or lose their sight. No innocents get killed. Youth have laptops rather than stones in their hands. The ecosystem of terroism has been dismantled. We always said that we will not buy peace but establish peace in Kashmir,” Mr.Sinha said.
Highlighting the empowerment of Jammu and Kashmir’s youth, the LG remarked on the tangible strides towards socio-economic development driven by the region’s energetic young populace. “The dreams of every citizen of J&K UT have got new wings, with an infinite sky of opportunities,” the LG said.
While praising the “love and respect” Kashmiris have for Modi, he said, “Bakshi Stadium has a total capacity for 35,000 people and is fully jam-packed. People are standing as there is no place to sit. This is the love of Kashmir for PM Modi. People are standing as there is no place to sit. This is the love of Kashmir for PM Modi. Had there been a ground for two lakh people, that too would have been overcrowded.”
He also highlighted the key initiatives unveiled during PM Modi’s visit include the ‘Holistic Agriculture Development Programme’ and the project for the ‘Integrated Development of Hazratbal Shrine. Additionally, the distribution of appointment orders to new government recruits underscored the administration’s focus on inclusive growth and employment generation.
“Infrastructure development has been a top priority, with several ambitious projects underway to bolster connectivity and economic growth across the region,” he said.
Notable among these are, The Z-Morh tunnel, with a budget exceeding Rs 2378 crore, set to be completed by June this year. Ongoing work on the Zojila tunnel project, valued at Rs 4500 crore, promising year-round connectivity to Sonamarg.
In his speech, he stated, “The first phase of the Srinagar Ring Road, costing Rs 2920 crore, slated for completion by August. The second phase of the Srinagar Ring Road, with a budget of Rs 961 crore, is expected to conclude by June 2025. The Delhi-Amritsar-Katra expressway, valued at Rs 10,995 crore, is projected to finish by November 2025. Construction of the Qazigund-Shopian-Pulwama-Srinagar NH444 at a cost of Rs 849 crore, among other approved highway projects.”
Sinhastated that significant investments have been allocated for infrastructure projects in the Kashmir valley, with a focus on enhancing connectivity and accessibility. “Under PM Modi’s flagship initiatives such as the PradhanMantri Gram SadakYojana (PMGSY), substantial progress has been achieved in rural road connectivity. Over the past four years, 4926 kilometers of roads have been constructed at a cost of Rs 3440 crore, ensuring connectivity to every village with a population of 500,” the LG stated.
Sinhaconcluded by affirming that more than 36,000 transparent government job recruitments have been conducted in the past four years, marking a significant milestone in the region’s journey towards inclusive development.
