Strategic Blend of Development and Politics: PM Modi’s Jammu Visit

Jammu, February 20, 2024, In a significant move ahead of the upcoming general elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to visit the Jammu region on February 20, marking his first visit since the removal of the provisions of Article 370 in 2019.

The Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) Jammu and Kashmir unit chief, Ravinder Raina, announced on Wednesday that PM Modi aims to inaugurate and lay the foundation stone for multiple developmental projects valued at over Rs 30,500 crore, covering diverse sectors such as health, education, rail, road, aviation, and developmental projects and address a public rally at Maulana Azad Stadium in Jammu.

The education and skilling infrastructure projects, collectively valued at Rs 13,375 crore, will see the inauguration of permanent campuses for institutions like IIT Bhilai, IIT Tirupati, IIT Jammu, and IIITDM Kancheepuram. The Prime Minister will also inaugurate 3 new IIMs and few Kendriya Vidyalaya and Navodaya Vidyalaya buildings.

In the transportation sector, notable improvements are expected as the Prime Minister lays the foundation stone for a new terminal building at Jammu Airport. Various rail projects, including the new rail line between Banihal-Khari-Sumber-Sangaldan and the electrified Baramulla-Srinagar-Banihal-Sangaldan section, will also be dedicated.

Key road infrastructure projects, such as the Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway connecting Jammu to Katra, the second phase of four-laning of Srinagar Ring Road, and upgrades to the Srinagar-Baramulla-Uri stretch of NH-01, will witness the initiation of foundation stones. Construction of bypasses in Kulgam and Pulwama on NH-444 will also commence.

Moreover, the foundation stone for a state-of-the-art Common User Facility (CUF) Petroleum depot at Jammu, boasting a fully automated system with a storage capacity of about 100,000 KL for various fuels, will be laid.

In the realm of civic infrastructure and public facilities, projects worth over Rs 3,150 crore will be inaugurated or have their foundation stones laid. These include road projects, bridges, grid stations, receiving stations, transmission line projects, sewage treatment plants, degree college buildings, an intelligent traffic management system in Srinagar city, a modern Narwal Fruit Mandi, a Drug Testing Laboratory at Kathua, and transit accommodations at Ganderbal and Kupwara. A major highlight will be the inauguration of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Vijaypur (Samba), Jammu, contributing to comprehensive tertiary care health services for the people of Jammu and Kashmir.These initiatives underscore the government’s unwavering commitment to the holistic development of Jammu and Kashmir, aiming to significantly boost economic growth, connectivity, healthcare, education, and overall quality of life in the region.

In road infrastructure, the foundation stone will be laid for key projects like the Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway connecting Jammu to Katra, the second phase of four-laning of Srinagar Ring Road, and upgrades to the Srinagar-Baramulla-Uri stretch of NH-01. The Prime Minister will also initiate the construction of bypasses in Kulgam and Pulwama on NH-444.

Furthermore, the Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone for a Common User Facility (CUF) Petroleum depot at Jammu, a state-of-the-art, fully automated depot with a storage capacity of about 100,000 KL for various fuels.

In a bid to enhance civic infrastructure and public facilities, projects worth over Rs 3,150 crore will be inaugurated or have their foundation stones laid. These include road projects, bridges, grid stations, receiving stations, transmission line projects, sewage treatment plants, degree college buildings, an intelligent traffic management system in Srinagar city, a modern Narwal Fruit Mandi, a Drug Testing Laboratory at Kathua, and transit accommodations at Ganderbal and Kupwara.A major focus will be on healthcare with the inauguration of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Vijaypur (Samba), Jammu, providing comprehensive tertiary care health

The comprehensive range of projects underscores the government’s commitment to the holistic development of Jammu and Kashmir and is anticipated to significantly impact the region’s economic growth, connectivity, healthcare, education, and overall quality of life.

This visit is widely perceived as an attempt by the BJP to strengthen its electoral position in the region and enhance prospects for the upcoming general elections. The party, aiming to secure all five Lok Sabha seats in the Union Territory, sees this visit as a crucial step in bolstering public support.