Jammu and Kashmir has completed 323,299 houses under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin, achieving 97 per cent of the target, officials said. The current phase of the scheme is nearing completion and work continues on the remaining 11,340 houses. The Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Department has been instructed to speed up construction to ensure timely delivery.

Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Department Secretary Mohammad Aijaz Asad directed assistant commissioners of development and block development officers to track each case and ensure no sanctioned house remains incomplete. He ordered that any technical or administrative bottlenecks hindering progress be resolved immediately and asked directors to hold weekly review meetings and report progress. The secretary also emphasised early release of pending instalments to beneficiaries to keep work on schedule.

All pending works must be completed by 15 April and officers were urged to make every possible effort, including working around the clock if necessary, as houses left incomplete under the previous phase will not be taken up once the new phase begins. The meeting stated that existing sanctioned works must be finished before the launch of the next phase and that completion should be prioritised over fresh sanctioning. Block-level monitoring and timely fund disbursement were identified as essential to meet the deadline.

A recent survey conducted ahead of the new phase has been carried out using AI-based technology, and deputy commissioners will review the findings to ensure that no eligible households are missed. The department has been instructed to clear any pending instalments and to provide weekly updates on progress so that gaps can be identified and addressed promptly. The near completion of the phase has been presented as an opportunity to transition smoothly into the next phase with accurate beneficiary lists and cleared accounts. Continued administrative oversight is expected to secure completion of the scheme targets.