The Central Government is preparing an ambitious ₹3,500 crore road infrastructure upgrade along the Amarnath Yatra route in Jammu and Kashmir, marking a significant step towards enhancing pilgrimage connectivity and strengthening the region’s transport network. The proposed road development works, covering nearly 60 kilometres, form part of a larger infrastructure expansion strategy aimed at improving accessibility, tourism, and economic growth across the Union Territory.
The projects were reviewed during a high-level meeting chaired by Union Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways, Ajay Tamta. Officials are currently preparing Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) for the planned road improvements, which are expected to provide safer and more efficient travel for the thousands of pilgrims who undertake the annual Amarnath Yatra.
Beyond the Amarnath route, the government is pursuing several major infrastructure initiatives focused on religious tourism. Among the key projects is the proposed ₹880 crore Katra Intermodal Station, designed to integrate rail, road, and helicopter services for pilgrims visiting the revered Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine. The multimodal facility is expected to streamline travel and improve the overall pilgrimage experience.
The meeting also highlighted plans for extensive ropeway development across Jammu and Kashmir. Authorities have received proposals for 54 ropeway projects with a combined investment potential of approximately ₹30,000 crore. In the first phase, eight ropeway projects worth ₹16,000 crore are expected to be taken up at prominent tourist and pilgrimage destinations, including the Amarnath Cave Shrine, Shankaracharya Temple, Thajiwas Glacier, Doodhpathri, Sanasar, and Bhadarwah.
Road connectivity remains central to the government’s development agenda for the region. Four high-speed highway corridors, involving investments of nearly ₹50,000 crore, are currently under construction to improve links between the Kashmir Valley, North Kashmir, the Chenab Valley, and border districts.
Another transformative project is the 670-kilometre Delhi–Amritsar–Katra Greenfield Expressway. Within Jammu and Kashmir, a 143-kilometre stretch worth ₹11,500 crore is targeted for completion by August 2027. Additionally, progress is being made on the Srinagar and Jammu Ring Roads, while DPRs are under preparation for another 707 kilometres of highways estimated to cost ₹65,000 crore.
