SRINAGAR, OCT 5: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has notified the Jammu and Kashmir Common Duct Policy 2026, marking a major shift towards integrated underground utility infrastructure and bringing an end to the practice of repeatedly digging roads for laying, repairing or expanding separate utility networks.
Notified through Government Order No. 199-JK(HUD) of 2026 following approval by the Council of Ministers, the policy seeks to establish shared underground corridors for electricity, telecom and fibre-optic networks, water and gas pipelines and other essential services. The move is aimed at improving urban infrastructure, reducing damage to public roads and supporting planned growth across the Union Territory.
According to the Office of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, the policy makes provision for incorporating common ducts at the design stage of new roads and infrastructure projects, while existing roads will be progressively brought under the system through phased retrofitting. The framework is intended to ensure that future utility expansion does not result in repeated excavation of newly constructed roads.
A key feature of the policy is the introduction of single-window Right of Way (RoW) clearances, which is expected to streamline permissions for utility agencies and service providers. It also provides for defined cost-sharing arrangements and digital mapping of underground utility assets through the Call Before You Dig platform, creating a centralised system to identify existing infrastructure before excavation is undertaken.
The government has projected the policy as a significant urban infrastructure reform, stating that coordinated utility planning will help protect public assets, lower operation and maintenance costs, reduce traffic disruptions and improve the overall appearance of cities and towns. Repeated trenching currently contributes to road deterioration, congestion, dust and noise, while poorly coordinated utility works can create safety hazards for commuters and pedestrians.
Under the new framework, common underground corridors will comprise conduits, ducts and designated cable pathways capable of accommodating multiple utility networks within a shared infrastructure system. The arrangement will allow electricity, telecommunications, fibre-optic cables, water, gas and other eligible services to operate through planned underground corridors rather than requiring separate road-cutting exercises.
The policy also establishes that shared duct infrastructure will be made available on a transparent, non-exclusive and non-discriminatory basis, enabling multiple authorised service providers to access the common network. This provision is expected to promote more efficient utilisation of underground infrastructure while reducing duplication of civil works.
Another important objective is the gradual undergrounding of overhead utility networks, particularly wires and poles that contribute to visual clutter and can pose risks during adverse weather. By providing dedicated underground pathways, the policy seeks to create cleaner streetscapes while strengthening the resilience and reliability of urban utility systems.
The framework further requires common-duct considerations to be incorporated into infrastructure planning for urban, industrial and housing projects. For existing high-traffic roads, the government has envisaged a phased retrofitting programme, allowing underground utility corridors to be introduced in a planned manner without undertaking disruptive large-scale works at one time.
The policy is expected to have long-term implications for the development of smart, digitally mapped and utility-efficient urban centres in Jammu and Kashmir, with coordinated underground infrastructure potentially reducing future road restoration costs and making expansion of essential and digital services faster and more predictable.
