NHAI has set December 2026 as the internal target to complete the 46 km Phase I of Srinagar Ring Road, connecting Galandar in Pulwama with Narbal. Major structures are already completed, and there are currently no land acquisition or utility issues.

Manali-Chandigarh Highway, Himachal Pradesh 🇮🇳

Six states Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi have finally agreed to move ahead with the ₹15,000 crore Kishau Multipurpose Project after decades of delay. The dam will be built on the Tons River, a major tributary of the Yamuna. It will generate 105.5x4 MW of electricity, provide water for irrigation of about 97,000 hectares, and supply drinking water to the states. The project took so long because the states had to decide who would pay and how the water and benefits would be shared. After nearly 60 years, this issue has finally been resolved.

Sawalkote Hydropower Project has attracted bids from five major Indian firms, including Adani. ₹5,129 crore Lot-1 package covers civil and hydro mechanical works. Bidders: Adani, L&T, HCC, Patel Engineering and Rithwik Projects. The 1,850 MW project is estimated to cost over ₹31,000 crore. It will span Ramban, Reasi and Udhampur and become J&K’s largest hydropower project. Lot-1 works have a 9 year completion period. Construction awaits PIB and CCEA approvals.

India’s SMR options are limited because its new rules require foreign reactor designs to be already operational and supported by an established supply chain. Only Russian and Chinese SMRs meet this test, but neither is practically available to Bharat. This leaves India’s own 220 MW PHWR as the most realistic SMR-like option. India has built it 14 times, has much of the technology and supply chain, and it uses natural uranium without enrichment. However, scaling it up faces challenges: 🔸Steam generators have not been manufactured in India since around 2006. 🔸Uranium supply may become a constraint for a large fleet. 🔸Building new units could cost more than existing PHWRs. 🔸India must rebuild and expand the supplier base.

Jammu & Kashmir Govt draft EV Policy 2026 proposes a phased shift to electric vehicles, with 900 charging sites in 6 years. EV targets 40% new cars, 35% two-wheelers, 30% buses and 25% taxis, 140 fast-charging hubs are planned.

Kishtwar district in Jammu & Kashmir plans a new road along the right bank of the Marusudar River to maintain connectivity to villages Khraipakhnoo, Tunder and Prangus, whose existing road link is expected to be cut off after the Pakal Dul Hydroelectric reservoir is completed.

Thoise Airport in Ladakh civilian flights are expected to start from December 2026. The IAF has approved 5 acres for a new civil terminal, while runway reconstruction is targeted for completion by November.

Jammu & Kashmir will get 110 new rural road projects worth ₹1,503.53 crore under PMGSY-IV (2026-27). Nearly 598 km of new roads across Kathua, Udhampur, Ramban, Doda and Kishtwar Expected to benefit around 46,972 people in remote and hilly areas.

Development of the so-called “oppressed” Indian Kashmir 😎

📍 NH 44 Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir 🇮🇳

Jammu & Kashmir targets nearly 11 GW hydropower by 2035 Jammu Kashmir plans to increase its operational hydropower capacity from 3,540 MW currently to 10,969.65 MW by December 2035. Major planned additions include: 2026: 1,000 MW Pakal Dul, 624 MW Kiru and 12 MW Karnah 2027: 37.5 MW Parnai 2028: 540 MW Kwar and 850 MW Ratle 2029: 260 MW Dulhasti-II and 240 MW Uri-I Stage-II 2031-35: 820 MW Kirthai-II, 390 MW Kirthai-I and 1,856 MW Sawalkote J&K has an identified hydropower potential of 14,635 MW, of which only about 24% has been utilised so far. The plan aims to make the UT more energy self-reliant and eventually power-surplus.

Ladakh has proposed 36 new check dams worth over ₹56 crore to boost irrigation and water security. 🔸7 Himalayan Rock Check Dams in Leh 🔸29 RCC check dams/weirs in Kargil 🔸Expected to irrigate 18,600+ acres 🔸Water will be sourced mainly from the Indus and Suru rivers 🔸Proposal submitted to the Ministry of Jal Shakti for approval under PMKSY The plan builds on Ladakh’s Upshi rock check dam pilot and aims to better utilise seasonal snow and glacier meltwater for agriculture.

RECPDCL has handed over the Luhri Power Transmission SPV to Terralight Solar Energy Tinwari after completing the competitive bidding process. The BOOT based project will develop transmission infrastructure to evacuate power from the Sunni Dam HEP and Luhri Stage-I HEP, strengthening hydro power connectivity in the Himachal region.

The Power Ministry is considering ₹18,700 crore of subordinated debt support for NHPC’s 1,856 MW Sawalkote project in Jammu Kashmir, estimated to cost 31,380 crore. The proposal is still under consideration. The Chenab River project is expected to generate 7,994.73 MU annually.

Indian Railways has increased the speed of Vande Bharat trains from 80 kmph to 100 kmph over the world’s highest railway bridge, the Chenab Bridge. 🇮🇳🚆

AAI has invited bids for project management consultancy for a new integrated terminal building and allied works at Srinagar Airport, Jammu Kashmir. Bid submission deadline: 21 September 2026.

Salal Hydroelectric Power Station, is a run-of-the river hydropower project on the Chenab River in the Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir. Long Live the Spirit of Bharat! Jai Hind! 🇮🇳