J-K: PM Modi inaugurates development projects worth Rs 20,000 crore

Samba (Jammu and Kashmir), April 24: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday visited Jammu and Kashmir, his first major visit to the Union Territory after the abrogation of Article 370, where he inaugurated and laid the foundation of multiple development initiatives worth Rs 20,000 crore. "Projects worth Rs 20,000 crore related to connectivity and electricity have been inaugurated here today. In a bid to bid speed up the development in Jammu and Kashmir, many development initiatives are being taken up in the Union Territory," PM Modi stated in Palli Panchayat of Samba district. The PM further said that these initiatives will provide huge employment opportunities to the youth of the Union Territory. PM Modi also laid the foundation stone of the Ratle and Kwar Hydroelectric projects. The 850 MW Ratle Hydroelectric project will be constructed on the Chenab river in the Kishtwar district and would cost around Rs 5,300 crore. The 540 MW Kwar Hydroelectric Project will also be built on the Chenab river at a cost of over Rs 4,500 crore. Both projects would help meet the power requirements of the region. Also Read | Punjab Police nabs five gangsters from Ludhiana mall "With the inauguration of a 500 KW solar power plant at Palli in Samba District, it is moving towards becoming the country's first panchayat to become carbon neutral...The people of Palli have demonstrated what 'Sabka prayas' can do," PM Modi said during the event. Prime Minister also inaugurated the Banihal Qazigund Road Tunnel, built at a cost of over Rs 3100 crore. The 8.45 km long tunnel would shorten the road distance between Banihal and Qazigund by 16 km, and reduce journey time by around one and a half hours. PM Modi laid the foundation stone of three road packages of the Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway, being built at a cost of over Rs. 7500 crore. To further expand the network of Jan Aushadi Kendras in Jammu and Kashmir and to make good quality generic medicines at affordable prices available, 100 Kendras made functional were also dedicated to the nation by PM Modi. The PM also visited the INTACH photo gallery which depicts the rural heritage of the region, and Nokia Smartpur, a rural entrepreneurship-based model designed to create ideal smart villages in India. PM Modi is addressing a gathering of over 30,000 Panchayati Raj Institution (PRI) members of Jammu and Kashmir, while PRIs from across the country are connected virtually for the Prime Minister's address. Also Read | PM Modi to receive first Lata Deenanath Mangeshkar Award in Mumbai -PTC News