This would enable the state to initiate 484 road connectivity works and construction of 50 bridges involving total road length of 2651.23 kilometres, an official spokesman said today.
"The Union Ministry of Rural Development has accorded clearance to the proposals of Jammu and Kashmir Government pertaining to road connectivity under Phase-VIII New Connectivity of Bharat Nirman, PMGSY and long span bridges involving over Rs 1248.15 crore," the spokesman said.
The approved grants include Rs 310.37 crore under Bharat Nirman Stage-I, Rs 851.92 crore under PMGSY Stage-II, Rs 21.02 crore under normal PMGSY (for border blocks), Rs 55.39 crore for long span bridges and Rs 9.45 crore under roads and bridges Stage-II, he said.
The spokesman added it will help to cover 10 habitations of more than 1,000 population each, 63 habitations with over 500 population each and 42 habitations each with more than 250 population.
The projects were approved following a request from state Chief Minister Minister Omar Abdullah to Union Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh for expeditious clearance.
Expressing his gratitude to the Union leadership, Particularly Ramesh, for the assistance to the state, Omar said, it will help in a big way to open up far-flung and remote areas for economic betterment and welfare of the people.