Anantnag (Jammu and Kashmir), Oct 28 (IANS) Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Wednesday said the government had committed ‘unprecedented resources’ for the ‘comprehensive reconstruction’ of Jammu and Kashmir but regretted that the benefits were reaching people ’slowly’.

‘Unprecedented resources have been committed to the state for its comprehensive reconstruction. But I recognise that the benefits are trickling down slowly. This state of affairs should change,’ Manmohan Singh said at his public rally before inaugurating a historic rail link to connect the northern and southern parts of the valley that will fulfil a long-felt need of its people

‘In the last five years, the government of India has taken a number of steps to bring development to Jammu and Kashmir. We have tried to revive the traditional connectivity between the people of the region,’ he said.

The prime minister listed out the major projects and initiatives taken by the government.

-Reviving the trade and peoples’ movement across the Line of Control on the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road and on the Poonch-Rawalakot road.

-Allocation of additional fund of Rs.385 crore to build the heritage Mughal Road that will connect south Kashmir Shopian with mountainous Poonch and Rajouri districts in Jammu.

-Additional Rs. 356 crore for conversation of the picturesque Dal Lake in Srinagar

‘We have to speed up the pace of development in the state. We want to strengthen the hands of the state government so that they can implement an ambitious development agenda,’ he said.

The prime minister also urged that the elections to local bodies ‘be held quickly’.

‘This,’ he said, ‘will increase the people’s participation in the processes of development.’