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In the new historical narrative on Jammu and Kashmir that is being created ever since the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019, the focus is steadily shifting towards development, connectivity, tourism, education and overall economic growth of the region.
The year 2019 also saw the reorganization of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir into two union territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. Several developments have since taken place in the union territory of Jammu & Kashmir which is home to millions of people.
An abrogation led to a wave of infrastructure development in the form of roads, bridges, tunnels and railways in the region.
This narrative spotlights the development of transport and infrastructure in the region as an engine for economic transformation of the state.
The Chenab Rail Bridge and the Anji Bridge were inaugurated in the year 2025 in Jammu and Kashmir.
The Chenab Bridge is a 359 meter high railway arch bridge and is the highest rail bridge in the world.
Infrastructure development, particularly roads and tunnels, provides a much needed fillip to the economy with enhanced connectivity to hitherto inaccessible destinations and an improved flow of goods and services.
The Zojila tunnel is a part of this much needed project of connectivity that links Jammu to Ladakh through a viable road transport link to meet the growing challenges of connecting the remote regions.
Besides Ladakh, the opening of Zojila tunnel provides immense opportunities for adventure sports and tourism.
Tourism has indeed boomed in the last few years with the opening up of the state for domestic as well as international tourism.
According to the J&K tourism department, the number of domestic tourists surged from 25.2 lakh in 2020 to over 2.35 crore in 2024, while the number of foreign tourists also rose exponentially over the same period.
This has had an enormous impact on the people in terms of employment and livelihood opportunities as the hospitality industry, restaurants, transportation, adventure sports, handicrafts, trekking, and the like have boomed.
It has also spurred development in places which were not on the tourism circuit till recently.
The focus on tourism has been on key destinations with huge potential with a view to develop other areas as well. The focus on tourist spots like Rajouri and Poonch has also helped generate immense economic activity.
In the current government’s vision for the development of Jammu and Kashmir, tourism plays a special role. The government has taken several initiatives in this regard, including the Swadesh Darshan 2.0 project.
Education and healthcare delivery are other important indicators of development in Kashmir.
A large number of institutions of higher learning and research have been set up in the past few years which have immensely benefited the youth of Jammu and Kashmir.
IIT Jammu and IIM Jammu have started functioning and new medical and nursing colleges have been set up.
These have directly contributed to the enhanced opportunities for the youth of the state.
Similarly, digital infrastructure development in terms of 4G, fiber-optic connectivity, and ease of doing business have enabled the youth to reach out to newer opportunities.
Internet connectivity has played a critical role in the digital age in linking people and the opportunities for them to express themselves and to engage in meaningful employment.
It was fitting that in the year 2026 the focus of the government was on fiber optics and 4G connectivity that would contribute to overall development of the state.
Agriculture and allied activities continue to be the backbone of the state’s economy and its people.
Horticulture, saffron, handicrafts and handlooms are the traditional strengths of the state.
Initiatives have been taken which have immensely benefited the farmers, artisans, and people engaged in allied activities.
The recognition of the geographical indication of Kashmiri Saffron has immensely helped in promoting this unique product as a premium item in India and abroad.
Another important development has been a large-scale project of development that has seen the completion of thousands of projects in the state since 2019 in various sectors.
Besides development projects that have started in the last few years, the emphasis has also been on completion of pending projects.
The narrative around Jammu and Kashmir has seen an upswing since the abrogation of Article 370 and the subsequent steps by the government.
It is important to evaluate the changes that have been taking place in the lives of the people to enable us to understand the situation as it exists in the new Jammu and Kashmir.
Kashmir has always had a wealth of opportunities, but they are now being harnessed in a much better way so that they benefit the people of the state and enhance their quality of life.
It is important that the new Kashmir continues to focus on development and connectivity as these will be the key drivers for overall economic development of the state.
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