As the financial year draws to a close on March 31, 2025, Jammu and Kashmir faces a familiar yet unresolved challenge: unspent development funds. Year after year, the region’s severe winter stalls critical infrastructure projects, leaving budgets either underutilized or hastily spent in a last-minute rush. This systemic failure demands immediate reforms — because development shouldn’t freeze alongside the winter-chilled Dal Lake.
Kashmir’s winter, marked by the brutal Chilai Kalan, isn’t just a seasonal inconvenience. It’s a force that cripples progress. With temperatures often plunging below zero — Srinagar recorded a bone-chilling minus 8.4 degrees Celsius in January 2021 — concrete work becomes virtually impossible. Roads, bridges, and buildings remain unfinished, while funds meant to transform the region gather dust.
In the 2023-24 budget, Jammu and Kashmir received ₹1.18 lakh crore, with substantial allocations for infrastructure. Yet, historical patterns reveal a troubling reality: by the time the last quarter arrives, large sums remain unspent. The Public Works Department routinely cites weather constraints as the reason for these delays. When March arrives, the administration scrambles to exhaust remaining funds — a frenzied rush that often results in substandard, hastily executed work. Similar issues have been documented elsewhere, like Hyderabad’s civic projects, where rushed year-end timelines left roads half-dug and debris scattered, according to a 2021 The Hindu report. Kashmir is no stranger to this scenario.
The root of the problem lies not in the weather but in poor planning. Funds are frequently released late in the year, leaving little room for execution before winter sets in. By the time administrative clearances arrive, Kashmir is already buried under snow. This outdated approach must change.
The solution is clear: frontloading development activities from April to November — a window of more favorable weather — can ensure major concrete works are completed before winter’s icy grip returns. Simultaneously, the government must rethink winter work itself. Not all development must grind to a halt in the cold. Allocating budgets for winter-resilient projects — like indoor infrastructure upgrades, energy-efficient retrofitting, or even alternative building materials (ABMs) — can ensure year-round progress. A 2023 Kashmir Observer report highlighted how construction waste could be repurposed into durable materials less affected by weather, but adoption remains sluggish. It’s time to fast-track such innovations.
Structural reform at the fiscal level is equally essential. Jammu and Kashmir could benefit from a region-specific fiscal calendar, recognizing its unique weather pattern. Alternatively, allowing unspent funds to roll over into the next financial year — without drowning in bureaucratic red tape — would prevent the destructive March expenditure sprint.
Encouragingly, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s recently formed committee on daily wagers, announced on March 11, 2025, reflects a proactive mindset. A similar approach, with dedicated task forces for infrastructure planning and winter-specific projects, could create a lasting blueprint for year-round development.
Kashmir’s future cannot remain weather-dependent. With better planning, timely fund releases, and modern construction techniques, the region can break free from this annual cycle of missed opportunities. Winter may slow Kashmir, but it shouldn’t stop its progress.
