Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo today chaired a high-level meeting to review the progress of various urban development schemes and programs being implemented across the Union Territory by the Housing & Urban Development Department (H&UDD).
Commissioner Secretary of H&UDD, along with the Commissioners of Srinagar and Jammu Municipal Corporations (SMC, JMC), the Managing Directors of the Housing Board and the National Urban Livelihoods Mission (NULM), and other senior officers, attended the meeting.
The Chief Secretary commended the significant urban transformation efforts undertaken by H&UDD. He emphasized the critical need for the timely execution of projects, strong collaboration between departments, and effective monitoring of all schemes. He stressed that these reforms and infrastructure projects must tangibly improve the quality of life for urban residents throughout the UT.
He directed the concerned departments to expedite work on essential utility projects, specifically water supply under the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) and sanitation under the Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban) [SBM (U)]. He stated that the completion of these projects would substantially enhance the living standards of the residents.
The Chief Secretary conducted a detailed review of the progress of ongoing flagship projects, including the Smart Cities Mission, AMRUT 2.0, Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Urban (PMAY-Urban), PM eBus Sewa, Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM), Swachh Bharat Mission 2.0, CITIIS 2.0, and other significant initiatives of the department.
Commissioner Secretary of H&UDD, Mandeep Kaur, provided a comprehensive overview of completed and ongoing projects across the cities and Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) of Jammu and Kashmir. She also briefed the meeting on the measures taken and planned to enhance the aesthetics and sanitation of urban areas in the UT.
Regarding the Srinagar Smart City projects, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Srinagar Smart City Limited (SSCL), Owais Ahmad, reported that the works encompass infrastructure modernization, heritage restoration, mobility enhancement, and public space improvement. He added that 161 projects, with a total budgeted cost of ₹3634 crore, have been initiated under the Smart City Mission. Currently, 11 works are under execution at a cost of ₹203.47 crore. These include the construction of a Traditional Souq Market and Craft Centre at Batamaloo, the Jhelum Waterfront Development Phase-2, the Gole Market – Karan Nagar Road Development, and the development of amenity blocks, an interpretation facility center, a cafe deck, and viewing towers along the Shalimar Canal.
Regarding Jammu Smart City Limited (JSCL), the CEO of JSCL, Devansh Yadav, informed the meeting that a total of 127 projects have been undertaken with a budgeted cost of ₹3581 crore. The seven ongoing projects, costing approximately ₹529 crore, include the Tawi River Front Development, the Oceanarium at Bag-e-Bahu, the Complete Street Development from Canal Road to Talab Tilo, and the Waste 2 Wonder Park, among others.
As part of the Tawi Riverfront Development Project (TRF), it was revealed that the interception and diversion of drains (nallahs) on both the left and right banks have been completed.
Furthermore, it was disclosed that 100 air-conditioned electric buses (eBuses) have been approved for each of the two cities under the PM eBus Sewa (via the Challenge Method). For this initiative, the Government of India (GoI), through the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), is providing 100% financial assistance for ‘Behind-the-Meter’ power infrastructure and 90% (up to ₹20 crore) for depot infrastructure.
Moreover, the Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) for Jammu Depot Infrastructure (JSCL), costing around ₹16.72 crore, and for a 6.6 MW power substation, with a DPR worth ₹8.51 crore, have been formulated. Similarly, for Srinagar Depot Infrastructure, a DPR of ₹14.50 crore has been formulated, along with a DPR worth ₹5.78 crore for the power sector, through the concerned agencies. The meeting was informed that all the DPRs have been approved by the Central Steering Committee.
Regarding the progress of housing projects under PMAY-U, the Managing Director of the Housing Board, Shahbaz Mirza, informed the meeting that 27,439 houses have been completed under the Beneficiary-Led Construction (BLC) Vertical (2021-24), with a fund utilization of ₹496.15 crore, including a central assistance of ₹40 crore released in February-March 2025.
Concerning the PMAY-U 2.0 expansion, a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) has been signed with MoHUA to implement the scheme in all 78 municipal bodies of the UT. It was also stated that a baseline survey for the identification of houseless individuals/families has been initiated. To ensure that the benefits of PMAY reach those without permanent housing, a digital application has been developed to survey urban areas. Additionally, master trainers have been trained in all districts, and committees have been structured for the verification and selection of eligible beneficiaries.
Regarding the financial assistance under PMAY-Urban 2.0, it was mentioned that ₹2.25 lakh as Central Assistance and a UT share of ₹0.25 lakh under the BLC and Affordable Housing in Partnership (AHP) verticals of the scheme would be provided to the beneficiaries.
Regarding progress on SBM-U 2.0 (Swachh Bharat Urban Mission), the meeting was informed that Material Recovery Facilities for dry waste, compost/Compressed Biogas (CBG) plants for wet waste, facilities for Construction and Demolition (C&D) waste, bioremediation of legacy waste, and Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) for Used Water Management for the two Municipal Corporations and 78 ULBs are at various stages of implementation. It was further added that all 78 ULBs have been declared “Safaimitra Surakshit Sheher” (Safaimitra Safe City) by the GoI.
The Managing Director of NULM revealed that out of the total received funds of ₹61.77 crore, ₹55.54 crore have been utilized so far. She also announced that a new mission, Deendayal Jan Aajeevika Yojana (Shehri), is being designed to replace NULM, with components such as Livelihoods, Skilling, Self-Help Groups (SHGs), Enterprise Promotion, and Local Action, for which the deliverables, timelines, and institutional mechanisms are being finalized.
On the Pradhan Mantri Street Vendor’s AtmaNirbhar Nidhi (PMSVANidhi) scheme, it was reported that against a target of 25,856 street vendors, 23,695 have been covered. The first tranche of loans was given to 17,219 applicants, the second tranche to 7611, and the third to 2,952, with letters of recommendation issued to 22,504 applicants.
The meeting was also informed that a revamped online Building Permission System is under rollout and is expected to be ready within two months.
The Srinagar Water Transport project, initiated for inland waterways from Anantnag to Wular Lake via the Jhelum and Dal Lake, was also discussed. It was mentioned that a partnership with Kochi Water Metro for peer learning and strategic support is being finalized. Furthermore, the tendering process for infrastructure and operations is underway.
