GANDERBAL, October 16, 2026 – Giving a major boost to public infrastructure and local connectivity, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah conducted an extensive review of the development scenario in the Ganderbal district on Thursday. During his visit, the Chief Minister inaugurated five completed development projects worth Rs 16.72 crore and laid the foundation stones for two critical new projects worth Rs 41.54 crore, bringing the total value of the day’s development initiatives to Rs 58.26 crore.
The inaugurated and proposed projects are aimed at strengthening the district’s public infrastructure, educational framework, and the crucial horticulture economy.
Addressing the connectivity needs of the region, the Chief Minister laid the foundation stone for a major bridge over the River Jhelum at Guzhama Shilwat, estimated to cost Rs 39 crore. Additionally, to support local farmers and fruit growers, he laid the foundation for a multi-purpose auction platform at the Fruit and Vegetable Mandi in Zazna, at a cost of Rs 2.54 crore.
The five completed projects inaugurated by the Chief Minister (totaling Rs 16.72 crore) include:
- Upgraded roads connecting Tehsil Bagh with Lar Bypass and Yanihama with Dangerpora.
- The road from Dar Mohalla Wattalbagh to Dangerpora and allied links.
- A newly constructed double-storey building at High School Gogjigund.
- The widened and upgraded road from Fatehpora Dak Bangloo to Gadoora Bridge.
- The Pati Waskura to Kharbagh Bund road along the River Jhelum.
During his comprehensive tour, Abdullah also reviewed the ongoing progress of the strategic Srinagar Ring Road project. Engineers briefed him at Dr. Farooq Abdullah Environmental Park in Manigam regarding the Rs 290.51 crore Pandaach-Manigam section. Being executed by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), this 12.115-kilometre highway project involves upgrading the existing two-lane road to a four-lane dual carriageway and is scheduled for completion by May 2028.
The Chief Minister’s itinerary also included reviewing the first phase of the Sindh River Front project (Rs 4.83 crore) and the Municipal Town Hall upgrade (Rs 3 crore). He directed the concerned officers and executing agencies to expedite the ongoing work to ensure these facilities are made available to the public at the earliest.
Later in the day, Abdullah visited the Fruit and Vegetable Mandi at Zazuna to assess arrangements during the peak harvest season. He interacted with progressive growers and farmers, actively listening to their concerns regarding the horticulture sector, and assured them that their genuine demands would be resolved appropriately.
The Chief Minister was accompanied by a high-level delegation, including Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary, Ministers Sakeena Itoo and Javid Dar, Advisor to the Chief Minister Nasir Aslam Wani, Additional Chief Secretary Dheeraj Gupta, and Deputy Commissioner Ganderbal Shreya Singhal, among other senior officials.
Published by True Roots Media Network