Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari announced that the InterModal Station (IMS) to be established in Katra, will be a world class state-of-the-art project constructed to improve travelling experience of the pilgrims visiting Shri Mata Vaishno Devi shrine.

Gadkari said this while interacting with media at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Spiritual Growth Centre, Katra.

The Minister also informed that for the journey between Jammu and Srinagar, three corridors worth Rs 35,000 crore are being constructed, which will reduce the earlier distance of 320 km by 70 km and travel time will be reduced from ten hours to four to five hours.

During interaction with the media, Gadkari said, developmental works worth Rs 1,30,000 crore are being taken up by MoRTH in Jammu and Kashmir and since 2014, around 500 km of road network has been completed in the region.

41 significant tunnels are being constructed in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh at a cost of Rs 45,000 crore. Additionally, 18 ropeways worth Rs 5,000 crore will also be constructed, Gadkari informed.

The Minister also announced that a 110-km-long Amarnath Marg — leading to the holy Amarnath cave in Pahalgam will be built at a cost of around Rs 5,300 crore for the convenience of the pilgrims going to the Amarnath shrine.

The Banihal-Ramban highway stretch will become the hub of lavender cultivation, giving rise to agri-tech start-ups, said the Minister.

"With the development of state-of-the-art road network across the country through every state and union territory, Kashmir to Kanyakumari will no longer be a dream for the people of India," Gadkari added.