SRINAGAR, SEPT 28: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who is also the Minister-in-charge of Housing and Urban Development, informed the House about a series of measures being undertaken to promote planned, sustainable and citizen-centric urban development across Jammu and Kashmir.
A major initiative highlighted before the House is the ₹361 crore Integrated Solid Waste Management Project at Achan, Srinagar, which has been approved and has now reached the tendering stage.
The project is designed to process 800 tonnes of solid waste per day and has a 25-year design horizon, marking a significant step towards strengthening scientific waste management and addressing the growing sanitation requirements of Srinagar.
The Government also informed the House about progress under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Urban (PMAY-U) 1.0 and 2.0 in Samba district, aimed at expanding access to affordable housing and supporting planned urban settlements.
Alongside infrastructure and housing initiatives, the Government has introduced a series of urban planning and regulatory reforms intended to streamline construction, improve land-use management and support more efficient urban mobility.
These include updated Unified Building Bye-Laws, Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) provisions, a new Parking Policy, AutoDCR-based building permissions and GIS-integrated approvals for change of land use.
The reforms are intended to bring greater transparency and efficiency to urban planning processes while reducing procedural delays.
The adoption of technology-driven systems such as AutoDCR and GIS integration is also aimed at making building approvals and land-use decisions more systematic and digitally trackable.
Taken together, the measures presented in the House indicate a broader government focus on urban infrastructure, affordable housing, scientific waste management, mobility and technology-enabled planning, with the stated objective of ensuring that urban expansion in Jammu and Kashmir takes place in a more organised and sustainable manner.
