Mega project builders in J&K assess risks, but no immediate alarm

Terrorist attacks in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) over the past 35 years have been non-discriminatory, but of late targeting vital infrastructure projects has evolved into a pattern. However, contractors of major ongoing projects in J&K don't see cause for alarm just yet.

- JADEN MATHEW PAUL & DHRUVAKSH SAHA Mumbai/New Delhi, 21 October

Terrorist attacks in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) over the past 35 years have been non-discriminatory, but of late targeting vital infrastructure projects has evolved into a pattern.

However, contractors of major ongoing projects in J&K don't see cause for alarm just yet.

But the Sunday attack, in which armed militants killed seven people, including a doctor, has put infrastructure players in the region on alert.

The Centre is executing 51 mega projects (those valued at more than ₹150 crore) in the Union Territory (UT), according to the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MOSPI). These projects were initially estimated to cost ₹76,000 crore, but their cost has risen by 56 per cent to ₹1.16 trillion, the data shows.

These include marquee projects such as the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL). Stuck since 1995, the project costs ₹42,500 crore and is nearing completion, with a variety of trials taking place on the Chenab Bridge - the highest rail bridge in the world.

In February, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had launched the project during his visit to the UT.