NH-44 Safety Upgrade in J&K Completed at ₹171.25 Cr: Nitin Gadkari
Blackspot rectification, service roads, and modern wayside amenities aim to enhance traffic safety and convenience
New Delhi, Mar 13: Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari on Friday announced the completion of major safety and commuter facility works on NH-44 in Jammu & Kashmir, with the total project cost estimated at ₹171.25 crore.
Key interventions include blackspot rectification at SIDCO Chowk and the Gole Mela–Sangoor stretch, construction of a Limited Vehicle User Path (LVUP) with service roads at Samba, and the development of modern Wayside Amenities at Jhajjar Kotli, Qazigund, and Marhama. These locations were previously identified as accident-prone zones and high-conflict traffic points.
The upgrades are designed to improve traffic flow, enable safer turning movements, and optimize road geometry, reducing congestion and minimizing accidents along the corridor. The newly developed Wayside Amenities provide rest areas, parking, food courts, and sanitation facilities for commuters, tourists, and truck drivers.
Gadkari emphasized that the improvements will facilitate smoother and safer movement of passenger and freight traffic on NH-44, the vital highway connecting Jammu with the Kashmir Valley and the rest of India. He added, “Under the visionary leadership of Narendra Modi, we remain committed to strengthening highway infrastructure in Jammu & Kashmir to promote connectivity, economic growth, and tourism.”
