Dr. Jitendra Singh: Gandial–Rajbagh Expressway Complete in Kathua
Synopsis
Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh announced the completion of the Gandial–Rajbagh Expressway in Kathua, Jammu and Kashmir, reducing the Kiriyan-to-Rajbagh travel time to 10 minutes and marking another infrastructure milestone in the Udhampur-Kathua-Doda constituency under PM Modi's tenure since 2014.
Key Takeaways
The Gandial–Rajbagh Expressway in Kathua, Jammu and Kashmir has been completed, according to Union Minister Dr.
Travel between Kiriyan and Rajbagh can now be completed in just 10 minutes , significantly improving daily commutes.
Singh attributed the project to continuous infrastructure-led development in the Udhampur-Kathua-Doda Lok Sabha constituency since 2014 .
The completion aligns with the central government's broader Bharatmala Pariyojana framework, which has prioritised highway development in border and hilly regions of Jammu and Kashmir.
Faster road connectivity in Kathua improves resident access to markets, health facilities, and emergency services in the hilly district.
A drive that once ate into the day now takes just 10 minutes. Union Science and Technology Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh announced on Monday, October 19, 2026, that the Gandial–Rajbagh Expressway in Kathua, Jammu and Kashmir, has been completed — slashing the travel time between Kiriyan and Rajbagh and delivering a concrete quality-of-life upgrade to residents of the region.
Kiriyan to Rajbagh in 10 minutes flat
The newly completed expressway links two points in Kathua district that commuters previously navigated over considerably longer stretches of road. Dr. Singh framed the completion as emblematic of a broader infrastructure push across the Udhampur-Kathua-Doda Lok Sabha constituency — the seat he represents — since Prime Minister Narendra Modi assumed office in 2014. 'This is the kind of continuous infrastructure-led development witnessed in Udhampur-Kathua-Doda Lok Sabha constituency, ever since Sh Narendra Modi ji took over as PM in 2014,' the minister wrote, tying a local milestone to the national governance narrative.
Kathua's place in J&K's connectivity push
Kathua sits in the Jammu division, a district that forms part of the strategically significant stretch between the plains and the hilly interior of Jammu and Kashmir. Since 2014, the central government has accelerated highway and expressway construction across the Union Territory, with projects like the Bharatmala Pariyojana — launched in 2015 — providing the framework for border-region road connectivity. The post-2019 reorganisation of Jammu and Kashmir as a Union Territory further intensified infrastructure spending in districts like Kathua, Udhampur, and Doda.
Everyday connectivity, long-term dividend
Shorter commutes are rarely just about time. In hilly districts, faster road links affect access to markets, schools, hospitals, and emergency services. The Gandial–Rajbagh Expressway connects local residents to nodes of daily activity that a difficult road previously made costly in hours and fuel. Dr. Singh, who also serves as Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office, has consistently highlighted infrastructure completions in the constituency as proof of the central government's delivery record in Jammu and Kashmir.
One expressway completed, a constituency watching for the next stretch to follow — and a government determined to make sure every 10-minute drive tells the larger story of what changed after 2014.
Point of View
Reinforcing a delivery narrative ahead of any future electoral cycle in Jammu and Kashmir. For Dr. Jitendra Singh, highlighting constituency-level road completions serves a dual purpose: it demonstrates ministerial presence in a region that has seen central governance deepen since the 2019 reorganisation, and it keeps the development-versus-status-quo framing alive. The broader arc here is the centre's deliberate use of infrastructure as both a governance tool and a political signifier in a Union Territory where ground-level delivery carries outsized credibility.
NationPress
19 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Gandial–Rajbagh Expressway in Kathua?
The Gandial–Rajbagh Expressway is a newly completed road project in Kathua district, Jammu and Kashmir, that connects Kiriyan to Rajbagh and reduces travel time between the two points to just 10 minutes.
Who announced the completion of the Gandial–Rajbagh Expressway?
Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology Dr. Jitendra Singh , who is also the MP from the Udhampur-Kathua-Doda Lok Sabha constituency, announced the completion on October 19, 2026.
How long does it now take to travel from Kiriyan to Rajbagh in Kathua?
According to Dr. Jitendra Singh's announcement, the journey from Kiriyan to Rajbagh can now be completed in just 10 minutes following the expressway's completion.
What is Bharatmala Pariyojana and how does it relate to road projects in Jammu and Kashmir?
Bharatmala Pariyojana is a central government highway development programme launched in 2015 to build and upgrade national highways, including in border and hilly regions. It forms part of the policy framework under which road connectivity projects in Jammu and Kashmir, including in Kathua, have been accelerated since 2014.
Which Lok Sabha constituency covers Kathua district?
Kathua district is part of the Udhampur-Kathua-Doda Lok Sabha constituency , which is represented by Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh.
