As the second anniversary of abrogation of Article 370 is approaching it is essential to analyze the development ushered in the wake of this significant action by the Central government. It is an undeniable fact that Article 370 acted as a hurdling block in the way of economic growth and development of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir.
Let us throw a light on the positive and significant changes observed in infrastructural development after 2 years of abrogation of Article 370. For the growth and development of a region, a strong physical infrastructure is primary requirement. That is why roads and highways are considered the arteries of a nation; Arteries that facilitate movement of people and goods and bring prosperity. Jammu and Kashmir in the past two years have seen a dedicated focus of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways on development of highway infrastructure in the region. Four-laneing of Jammu-Akhnoor Highway with a magnificent flyover, Ring Road, Jammu and Srinagar highway, 4-laneing of the main arterial Srinagar-Jammu-Lakhanpur (NH-44) highway forming part of the North-South corridor projects are some of the infrastructural development initiatives taken by the Modi Government.
Under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojna, J&K has embarked on constructing 5,300 km of road by 2020-21. Although, many of these projects were envisaged and planned earlier, however, the abrogation of Article 370 last year, has seen an invigorated push towards initiation and construction of these projects. Around 2273 infrastructure projects worth Rs. 5979 crores, which had been pending for the past 5-10 years, were sanctioned in 2020, and 506 were completed in the same year. Projects pending for over four decades like the Shahpur-Kandi project were started. Even Jammu and Kashmir Infrastructure Development Finance Corporation was created last year to complete projects languishing for 5-10 years.
The period after the abrogation of Article 370 has witnessed a new sunrise by reinforcing governance, accelerating development, and building infrastructure. The major projects initiated by the Modi government in Jammu and Kashmir also includes IIT Jammu, AIIMS-Jammu, AIIMS-Kashmir, Infrastructural grants to 22 colleges in Phase-1 of RUSA with 43.5 crore and 8 colleges in Phase-11 with 16 crores. Apart from these major projects, hundreds of minor projects have also been sanctioned to Jammu and Kashmir in the post-Article-370 period. Many new hydro projects in the UT have also been speeded up like-Ujh and Shahpur Kandi-which were in limbo for over five decades.
To achieve the dream of 24×7 power for all, 60 percent of works have been completed. J&K now has achieved 100 percent household electrification which has rekindled the hope of many who had never seen electricity in their lives. The project of Universal metering is implemented with universal coverage to eliminate the incidence of theft. The power distribution also going to be privatized and an effective system of recovery of dues with a suitable incentive structure is introduced. Household water connections have reached 43 percent of rural households which is double the national average of 21 percent and a road map has been prepared to ensure 100 percent coverage of piped water supply to all 18.16 lakh rural households by December 2021.
It is an undeniable fact that the development of Jammu and Kashmir was impeded by corruption and misgovernance of previous governments in the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir. These governments remained busy fueling the anti-India sentiments among the people, especially youth, and neglected the real issues of growth and development. In this scenario, it was necessary to scrap Article 370 and integrate Jammu and Kashmir with India and initiate the process of growth and development. The development projects initiated by the Modi government in the post-Article 370 have given hope and confidence to the people that the change envisaged by Prime Minister Modi is surely visible and that too at an unprecedented pace.
