After a meeting of Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, the Centre said it has decided to fast-track infrastructure projects in the city.
Mehbooba later said the violence in the state has come down and that the situation has improved.
The meeting was conducted to review the progress of projects under the Rs 80,000-crore Prime Minister’s Development Package (PMDP).
The meeting came three days after the Centre announced the appointment of Intelligence Bureau former chief Dineshwar Sharma as 'interlocutor', giving him the "freedom to talk to anyone", including the separatists.
Mehbooba said she discussed the appointment of Sharma, security situation in the state and development issues with Singh. "Funds are getting released and many development works are going on," she added.
A statement issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs said it had decided to fast-track projects under PMDP by making free land available for infrastructure projects in road, power and health sectors.
"Special emphasis will be given for development of border areas (0-10 km) while selecting projects under the Border Area Development Program. It was also decided that to ensure safety of these people in border areas, bunkers will be constructed," it said.
"It was also decided to accelerate the development projects relating to additional jobs to Kashmiri migrants, transit accommodations, transfer of cash relief/honorarium through Direct Benefit Transfer mode and providing employment to youth of Kashmir," it said.
Under a package for 63 major development projects in Kashmir, an amount of Rs 62,599 crores has already been sanctioned and an amount of Rs 22,042 crores has been released.
Published 26 October 2017, 14:44 IST