Udhampur Leaves Rest of J&K Behind in MPLADS Race
Dr Jitendra Singh’s constituency records more completed works than other four Lok Sabha seats combined
Huge backlog of pending projects in Srinagar, Baramulla, Jammu and Anantnag-Rajouri raises accountability questions
Srinagar: A striking imbalance has surfaced in the implementation of development projects under the Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) across Jammu and Kashmir, with Udhampur constituency emerging far ahead of the rest in both project completion and utilization of funds.
Official data accessed by this newspaper reveals that Udhampur MP Dr. Jitendra Singh has completed 174 out of 333 sanctioned works under the MPLADS scheme, registering an impressive completion rate of 52.3 percent. The constituency has also utilized 28.2 percent of the allocated funds — the highest in Jammu and Kashmir.
What has drawn particular attention is that Udhampur alone has completed more projects than the combined total achieved by the other four Lok Sabha constituencies of the Union Territory.
While Udhampur has completed 174 works, the remaining constituencies together have managed to finish only 63 projects, exposing a massive gap in execution and implementation of developmental works across the region.
The latest figures have triggered fresh debate over the effectiveness of MPLADS implementation and the role of elected representatives in ensuring timely completion of public projects.
In Srinagar parliamentary constituency, MP Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi has completed only 19 out of 163 sanctioned works, leaving 144 projects pending. The constituency has utilized merely 10.7 percent of the allocated MPLADS funds.
Baramulla constituency has also recorded sluggish progress. MP Abdul Rashid Sheikh has completed just 12 of the 124 sanctioned works, while 112 projects continue to remain incomplete. The constituency’s completion rate stands at 9.7 percent.
Similarly, Jammu parliamentary seat represented by Jugal Kishore Sharma has completed only 26 out of 193 sanctioned works, with 167 projects still pending, translating into a completion rate of 13.5 percent.
Anantnag-Rajouri constituency has emerged as the poorest performer among all five constituencies. MP Mian Altaf Ahmad has completed merely six of the 66 sanctioned works, leaving 60 projects unfinished.
The data indicates that despite crores of rupees being allocated under MPLADS for local development, implementation in several constituencies remains painfully slow, with hundreds of projects still awaiting completion.
Observers say the widening gap between sanctioned works and completed projects is likely to invite public scrutiny and renewed demands for accountability, transparency and faster execution of development schemes.
The stark contrast between Udhampur and the rest of the constituencies has also intensified political debate, with many pointing to the need for stronger monitoring mechanisms and active follow-up to ensure that public funds translate into visible development on the ground.
As questions mount over delays and underperformance in several constituencies, Udhampur’s figures are increasingly being projected as a benchmark for effective implementation and timely utilization of development funds in Jammu and Kashmir.
