Onlykashmir.in News Desk
The Centre has forwarded a set of development demands raised by Baramulla Lok Sabha member Sheikh Abdul Rashid, popularly known as Engineer Rashid, concerning North Kashmir to the concerned Union ministries for appropriate action, Awami Itihaad Party Chief Spokesperson Inam Un Nabi said on Friday. The demands, originally submitted to Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman through a letter dated April 15, 2026, cover infrastructure, healthcare, education and cultural needs in the MP’s constituency, with particular emphasis on remote and border areas.
Among the key demands, the MP sought the immediate release of funds for the construction and restoration of key bridges in Kupwara district, including the Kharpora Bridge, the Cherek-e-Lawoosi Bridge and the Lach Drungsoo Bridge, along with restoration of damaged bridges at Daand Kandal in Langate and Kralpora Market, arguing that these structures were vital for connectivity, emergency access and economic movement in areas that often face seasonal isolation.
On cultural and youth infrastructure, the letter sought financial support for the construction of auditoriums at Bandipora, Baramulla, Beerwah and Kupwara, and for completing finishing works on the already-built auditorium at Hangah, Handwara, so that it could be made fully functional. Engineer Rashid also raised a series of healthcare demands, including the establishment of a fully equipped Cancer Hospital in North Kashmir to spare patients the need to travel outside the region for specialised treatment, the operationalisation of the Trauma Hospital at Pattan, release of pending funds for ongoing health-centre and hospital projects, and the establishment of a dedicated Maternity Hospital to address gaps in maternal healthcare in far-flung areas. On education, the letter sought sanction of a Degree College at Machil, citing the limited access to higher education facilities for students in the remote border belt.
The Ministry of Finance, through an Office Memorandum dated April 24, 2026, has referred the issues to the Department of Higher Education under the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, and the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, based on their respective administrative jurisdictions. Welcoming the development, Inam Un Nabi described the forwarding of the demands as an important administrative step, expressing hope that the concerned departments would examine each proposal and act within their jurisdiction.
“The demands raised by Engineer Rashid Sb cover basic infrastructure, healthcare, education and public facilities that directly affect the people of North Kashmir, particularly those living in remote and border areas,” Nabi said, adding that the AIP would continue to follow up on the status of each individual project, from the Kupwara bridges and the four district auditoriums to the Cancer Hospital, Trauma Hospital, Maternity Hospital and the proposed Degree College at Machil, until concrete action is taken on the ground.
