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Cutting Corners, Costing More

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  Cutting Corners, Costing More “India’s infrastructure future depends on shifting from price-driven contracts to modern tendering systems that prioritize technical competence, safety, sustainability and lifecycle performance. Peerzada Mohsin Shafi I nfrastructure development is the backbone of any nation’s growth and prosperity. Projects such as tunnels, ports, airports, highways and hydro power facilities are not merely constructions but the temples of the modern world. These projects have a direct impact on the lives of citizens by improving connectivity, providing employment, enhancing energy availability and raising living standards. They also play a crucial role in stimulating the overall economy by facilitating trade, improving efficiency and attracting investment. Every infrastructure project begins with a planning phase, which lays the foundation for all subsequent activities. Once planning is complete, the project moves into execution, but onl...
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Green Infrastructure Through Ecologically Sustainable Mountain Trails

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  Green Infrastructure Through Ecologically Sustainable Mountain Trails “Sustainable mountain trails proposed in the Union Budget present Jammu and Kashmir with a chance to align tourism with conservation. Done right, they can help protect green gold, limit forest fires and strengthen local economies. Peerzada Mohsin Shafi T he Union Budget announcement on developing ecologically sustainable mountain trails has opened a timely opportunity for India’s hill regions, with special importance for Jammu and Kashmir. The proposal reflects a growing recognition that mountain development must move beyond short term tourism gains and towards long term ecological stability and community well-being. For Jammu and Kashmir, where mountains and forests shape livelihoods, water security and cultural identity, this initiative can become a turning point if implemented with care. Mountain trails are often seen simply as paths for trekkers, but when designed scientifically th...
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  When Infrastructure Rewrote Winter “Winter once shaped life through shared rituals that brought work, play, and community together, but modern infrastructure has made the season easier yet quietly thinner.” Peerzada Mohsin Shafi W inter once shaped daily life through quiet rituals that were repeated year after year without much thought. These rituals were not planned or celebrated in any formal way. They emerged naturally from living in places where cold, snow and darkness-imposed limits on movement, comfort and time. Long before modern infrastructure softened winter’s edges, people adapted through habit. Preparing homes, adjusting routines and sharing labor were all part of an unspoken seasonal rhythm. As infrastructure modernized, these rituals did not disappear suddenly. They faded slowly, becoming unnecessary rather than unwanted, leaving behind a winter that feels easier yet thinner in experience. In earlier winters, preparation itself was a ritu...
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Dulhasti Stage-II HEP A New Dawn for Kishtwar

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  Dulhasti Stage-II HEP A New Dawn for Kishtwar “With financial bids opened, Dulhasti Stage-II marks a new phase of development in J&K. The project promises clean energy, jobs, infrastructure and climate-conscious execution.” Peerzada Mohsin Shafi F or decades, the Chenab River in Jammu and Kashmir has symbolized power, progress and development, yet much of its potential remained untapped. Today, the river is already a hub of hydropower, with several projects commissioned and others under construction, including Kiru HEP, Kwar HEP, Rattle HEP and Pakal Dul HEP. With the opening of financial bids for Dulhasti Stage-II on January 13, 2026, the Chenab is poised to deliver even more clean energy, jobs and infrastructure to the region. For the people of Kishtwar and surrounding areas, this milestone brings renewed hope. Yet the Chenab also serves as a cautionary reminder. Recent cloud bursts in Kishtwar triggered sudden floods and landslides, underscoring...
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Pseudo-Activism Cripples Infrastructure Projects in J&K

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  Infrastructure Projects Held Hostage Pseudo-Activism Cripples Infrastructure Projects in J&K “Pseudo-activists exploiting the guise of social work are obstructing infrastructure projects in Jammu and Kashmir, harassing contractors, inflating costs and delaying development that the region urgently needs.” Peerzada Mohsin Shafi Infrastructure projects are the foundation of any region’s development. Roads, bridges, power plants, tunnels water supply schemes and public utilities create jobs improve connectivity and strengthen the economy. In Jammu and Kashmir, different infrastructures projects such the widening of national highways, construction of hydropower plants and extensive rural road schemes under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana are transforming the region. These projects are critical not only for economic growth but also for improving the daily lives of citizens by connecting remote areas, providing reliable power, and promoting trade. Yet alongside these de...
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Credit Wars in Infrastructure Projects

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  Credit Wars in Infrastructure Projects “In Jammu and Kashmir routine development works are increasingly exaggerated as personal or political achievements by individuals rushing to claim credit. This culture distorts facts, weakens accountability and poses a quiet but serious danger to society.” Peerzada Mohsin Shafi In Jammu and Kashmir a strange and worrying culture has steadily grown where even the smallest hint of infrastructure development becomes a race for personal credit. A tender notice uploaded quietly by a department, a routine correspondence by an official or meeting with the relevant minister is enough to trigger a flood of claims. Everyone suddenly appears to be the architect of progress. Local power brokers, self-declared activists, social media commentators and political workers rush forward to announce that this happened because of them. Development, instead of being understood as a structured institutional process, is turned into a competitive spectacle of ...
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Life, Livelihoods and Skills After Major Infrastructure Projects end.

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  Beyond the Build Life, Livelihoods and Skills After Major Infrastructure Projects end. “The end of major infrastructure projects presents both challenges and opportunities for local labour, requiring proactive planning to secure sustainable employment. Through government support and targeted skill development, temporary construction expertise can be transformed into lasting livelihoods and future economic growth.” Peerzada Mohsin Shafi L ife for workers after major infrastructure projects often unfolds in ways that sharply contrast with the intensity and structure of the construction years. When tunnels are sealed, roads are opened and bridges begin carrying daily traffic, communities celebrate progress and achievement. Yet for the workers who built these structures, the end can feel abrupt, confusing and deeply unsettling. During construction these projects dominate daily life. Long workdays, fixed routines and a shared sense of purpose give shape to ...
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