Jammu, March 7 Since the formation of the National Conference-led government in Jammu and Kashmir in 2024, as many as 5,881 development projects worth Rs 22,275 crore, proposed by MLAs during pre-budget discussions for the 2025-26 budget estimates, have been accommodated, officials in the finance department said.
Under the Constituency Development Fund (CDF), the MLAs have so far recommended around 12,000 projects worth about Rs 313 crore against an allocation of Rs 427 crore, indicating strong progress in fund utilization, the officials said.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who also holds the Finance portfolio, presented his maiden budget in the J&K Assembly in March 2025, following extensive pre-budget consultations with stakeholders, including legislators from both treasury and opposition benches.
The consultative process continued ahead of the presentation of his government's second budget on February 6.
"Following the pre-budget discussions on the 2025-26 budget estimates, details of 7,909 projects identified and submitted by MLAs were forwarded to the concerned administrative departments for examination of feasibility, preparation of estimates, and consideration in accordance with sectoral priorities under the UT CAPEX Budget 2025-26.
"Out of these 7,909 newly identified projects, the departments have so far been able to accommodate 5,881 projects costing Rs 22,275 crore. A budget of Rs 986 crore has already been earmarked in 2025-26 for the time-bound completion of all these 5,881 projects," the finance department said.
It said that the development projects recommended by public representatives are undertaken under UT Capex, District Capex, and CDF funds.
While UT CAPEX has been fruitful in handling major projects, several developmental works at the grassroots level are undertaken through the funding provided under District CAPEX and CDF.
In the current year 2025-26, the official said that about 71,500 projects costing around Rs 1307 crore are underway under District CAPEX funding.
The codal formalities of administrative approval, tendering, and allotment have been completed expeditiously. As of now, 96 percent of the new projects are already under execution after completing the mandatory processes of administrative approval and tendering, the department said, adding that so far, about Rs 500 crore has been utilized through these projects.
For the time-bound execution of development projects, including those recommended by MLAs, multiple monitoring mechanisms are in place, the officials said.
They said that funds are allocated, released, and expenditures are tracked on a near real-time basis through the Budget Estimation and Allocation Monitoring System (BEAMS) in the Finance Department.
The Photographic Record of On-site Facility (PROOF), implemented across all treasuries in J&K, enables monitoring of works at various stages through geo-tagged photographic evidence, which is mandatory before the clearance of contractors' payments, the officials said.
They said that all completed works undergo 100 percent physical verification every year by field officers of the Planning, Development, and Monitoring Department under district administrations across all 20 districts.
In addition, details of ongoing projects – including administrative approvals, technical sanctions, contract awards, and funds released or spent – are available to the public in real time on the Janbhagidari Portal, while regular review meetings are held at departmental and district levels to monitor implementation, the officials said.