Srinagar, Aug 21 (KNS): The Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has confirmed that Jammu and Kashmir has received more than ?1,000 crore in funding under the Central Road and Infrastructure Fund (CRIF) over the past five years, signaling consistent central support for strengthening road connectivity in the Union Territory.

According to Kashmir News Service (KNS), CRIF projects are selected through a structured process in sync with the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan. Proposals are submitted by states and UTs, then examined, prioritized, and sanctioned by the Ministry.

As per the data, J&K’s CRIF accruals and releases have shown a steady upward trend since 2020-21. That year, the UT accrued ?94.51 crore, of which ?79.40 crore was released. The following year, 2021-22, saw a sharp jump: ?96.91 crore accrued but an extraordinary ?321.18 crore released, reflecting what officials termed a “special infrastructure push” in the region after its reorganization.

The momentum carried into 2022-23, when ?113.61 crore accrued and ?343.61 crore was disbursed. However, in the subsequent two financial years, while accruals rose to ?128.67 crore annually, releases tapered to ?206.67 crore in 2023-24 and ?128.67 crore so far in 2024-25.

Officials explained that CRIF funds are primarily earmarked for the development and upkeep of state roads, while actual execution and monitoring rest with the UT Government.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp ChannelThe release of central funds depends on utilization certificates submitted for earlier allocations.

Alongside MoRTH, the Ministry of Railways also receives CRIF allocations, largely for safety-related infrastructure, including Road Over Bridges (ROBs) and Road Under Bridges (RUBs) to replace level crossings. While the latest statement did not provide J&K-specific details, national priorities suggest similar works are either underway or planned in the UT.

The CRIF framework also feeds into rural connectivity through the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), though that component is managed by the Ministry of Rural Development.
Despite the sizeable inflows, officials noted that the scheme operates within the Bank of Sanction (BoS) mechanism, which restricts new approvals until liabilities from past allocations are liquidated.

“This ensures fiscal discipline but also slows down the pace of fresh sanctions for states like J&K,” sources said.
The Ministry, however, underlined that the consistent release of over ?1,000 crore in just five years demonstrates the Centre’s commitment to addressing connectivity challenges in the Himalayan region.(KNS)