On the anniversary of the constitutional changes of 5 August 2019, discussions around Jammu and Kashmir often remain trapped in political rhetoric. Yet the more useful measure is practical: roads completed, trains running, tourists arriving, power reaching homes, local businesses opening and public services expanding. Measured against these outcomes, the region on the Indian side of the Line of Control has followed a markedly different trajectory from the areas under Pakistani administration. The contrast offers a clear answer to coordinated efforts that seek to portray the post-2019 period solely through a lens of grievance.
INFRASTRUCTURE THAT ENDS ISOLATION
Difficult Himalayan terrain long constrained mobility and economic activity. Sustained investment has changed that reality. The Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link has connected the Kashmir Valley to the national railway network. Its centrepiece, the Chenab Rail Bridge—the world’s highest railway arch bridge at 359 metres above the riverbed—stands as both an engineering landmark and a practical corridor for people and goods. Major tunnel projects, including those on National Highway-244 and the Zojila and Z-Morh works, aim at all-weather access. Highways have been widened, airports modernised and smart-city initiatives introduced in Srinagar. Household electrification has approached universal coverage under national schemes, supported by local hydropower and subsidised tariffs for many categories of consumers.
Across the Line of Control the picture differs. Substantial hydropower is generated at projects such as Mangla and Neelum-Jhelum, yet residents in towns including Rawalakot, Muzaffarabad and Mirpur frequently report high tariffs, unscheduled outages and limited local royalty benefits. Railway connectivity remains absent and road networks in many districts are described by local communities as inadequate. These practical gaps surface repeatedly in public discussions.
TOURISM AS AN ECONOMIC ENGINE
Visitor numbers provide another measurable indicator. Jammu and Kashmir recorded more than two crore tourist visits in peak recent years; after a temporary dip linked to security incidents, arrivals recovered to approximately 1.77–1.78 crore in 2025, including tens of thousands of foreign visitors. Destinations such as Gulmarg, Pahalgam and Sonamarg have expanded, while newer areas including Keran, Gurez, Doodhpathri and Lolab Valley now attract visitors. Homestays, hotels and transport services have proliferated. The sector contributes roughly seven per cent of regional economic output and supports hundreds of thousands of livelihoods in hospitality, handicrafts, guiding and related services. Border villages that once saw little traffic now welcome tens of thousands of visitors annually.
Scenic valleys on the other side of the Line of Control, including Neelum, possess comparable natural beauty. Local operators, however, report reduced room rates, low occupancy and limited promotional or infrastructure support. Visitor numbers remain modest relative to potential, constraining employment in hospitality and ancillary services.
INVESTMENT, JOBS AND DAILY ECONOMIC HORIZONS
Jammu and Kashmir has attracted investment proposals across tourism, horticulture, manufacturing, food processing and services. In 2025-26 the region drew approximately ₹5,824 crore in investments. New educational campuses of national importance and expanded healthcare facilities have broadened options for young people. Business registrations and tourism-related construction have risen, signalling growing local entrepreneurial confidence. Digital connectivity has widened access to education, government services and online enterprise platforms.
In the areas administered by Pakistan, unemployment is repeatedly cited by local groups as a central concern. Remittances from the diaspora remain an important economic cushion. Large infrastructure projects are often perceived as serving external grids rather than generating substantial local industry or jobs. Protest organisers have listed demands for local hiring preferences, support for small businesses and relief from rising prices of electricity and flour.
PUBLIC CONCERNS AND INSTITUTIONAL RESPONSE
Civic expression occurs in both regions under real-world constraints, yet the practical experience differs. In Jammu and Kashmir, student and civic protests have taken place within established legal and policing frameworks that permit regulated assembly. Digital creators and journalists continue to produce content on culture, development and daily life.
In Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, sustained agitation led by groups such as the Joint Awami Action Committee has centred on a detailed charter demanding lower electricity prices, subsidised essentials, employment and better services. Demonstrations in Rawalakot and elsewhere have drawn large crowds, including women and young people, and have at times escalated, accompanied by reports of casualties, internet restrictions and arrests. Organisers have described communication blackouts and limited mainstream coverage, leading many to rely on social media and diaspora networks.
GOVERNANCE AFTER THE CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGES
The 2019 reorganisation ended the earlier special constitutional arrangement and brought the region under a more uniform national legal framework. Central laws relating to social justice, reservation, transparency, education and economic regulation became more fully applicable. Protections for women regarding inheritance and property rights were strengthened in line with the principle of equality before the law. Provisions for Panchayati Raj institutions expanded the role of elected representatives at village and district levels, bringing administration closer to communities and creating channels for identifying local priorities and implementing welfare schemes.
Digital governance platforms have improved access to certificates, welfare benefits and public services. National schemes in healthcare, housing, financial inclusion, rural development and social security reached residents through more integrated delivery mechanisms. Greater alignment with national economic systems has sought to lower administrative barriers for entrepreneurship and investment. A more stable security environment has supported the functioning of institutions, public engagement and economic activity.
TWO PATHS, SHARED ASPIRATIONS
Residents on both sides of the mountain range share aspirations for peace, prosperity, dignity and opportunity. The divergence lies in outcomes. On one side, conversations increasingly turn to new train services, tourist seasons, business openings and expanded educational and medical facilities. On the other, public energy focuses on the price of power, availability of flour, unemployment and demands for greater local returns from natural resources and more responsive administration.
Development is judged by everyday realities—the roads people travel, the jobs they can access, the services available to their families and the confidence with which the next generation plans its future.
The record of the past six years in Jammu and Kashmir demonstrates that sustained investment in connectivity, tourism, institutional reform and service delivery can reshape prospects even in challenging terrain. The continuing public dissatisfaction reported from the other side of the Line of Control underscores that resources alone are insufficient without governance that converts potential into tangible benefits for citizens.
The anniversary therefore offers an opportunity not for abstract debate but for recognition of measurable progress: landmark bridges and tunnels completed, record tourist arrivals, rising investment, broadened legal protections and expanded local democratic institutions. These outcomes form the most effective counter to narratives that overlook the lived experience of development.