118 Kms macadamized across Srinagar during current fiscal: Dy CM
SRINAGAR, SEPTEMBER 29: Deputy Chief Minister, Surinder Kumar Choudhary today informed the Legislative Assembly that total road length of 118.06 KMs has been successfully macadamized/upgraded across Srinagar District during the current financial year through the joint efforts of the PW(R&B) Department and the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC).
The Minister was replying to a question raised by the legislator Ali Mohammad Sagar.
The Minister said that under special development directives, 15.43 KMs of road length have been upgraded specifically within the Khanyar Constituency till date.
The Minister informed the house that the R&B Department’s community centres in Srinagar have generated an annual revenue of ₹6,83,000/- in the 2025-26, up from ₹4,15,000/- in the previous year, which is being actively utilized toward essential maintenance works.
The Minister said that the department continues to aggressively pursue bottleneck removals on historic transit corridors under the oversight of the High-Level Committee (HLC).
“With regard to Syed Meerakshah Road (SMS Road), out of the total 10.33 Km stretch, 2.68 Km has been fully widened (25.95% physical progress) and settlement as well as acquisition have been successfully completed for 132 out of 332 affected structures. Similarly, for Khanyar-Zadibal-Pandrath (KZP Road), the total road length is 12.45 Kms. Out of 314 structures, 161 structures have already been acquired, achieving a physical widening of approximately 2.00 Km of the road corridor. In respect of Koolipora-Budoobagh Road (Special Reference) a critical 435-metre road widening project has achieved a completed stretch of 231 metres. Out of 29 structures, 14 have been cleared. The remaining 15 cases are currently undergoing fast-tracked resolution. The project stands approved at an estimated cost of ₹450.00 lakh”, the Minister informed.
Deputy Chief Minister further informed the House that the widening and upgradation proposal for the Devi Angan-Hawal Road has been submitted under the CRIF scheme at an estimated cost of Rs 31.25 crore. The proposal includes Rs 30 crore for land acquisition and utility shifting and Rs 1.25 crore for development works along an approximately 1.40-kilometre stretch. The project will be taken up after the requisite approval is received under the scheme.
On the Alamgiri Bazar Chowk project, Deputy Chief Minister stated that the work has been authorised under the UT Sector at an estimated cost of Rs 335 lakh, including acquisition of five structures and redesigning of the junction. Administrative approval has been accorded by the Chief Engineer, Public Works (R&B) Department, Central Kashmir. An amount of Rs 20 lakh was allocated during the financial year 2025–26, while the case is presently under examination at the Administrative Department level for further necessary action and release of funds.
With regard to the Buchpora- Hazratbal Road, the House was informed that administrative approval for the revised Detailed Project Report (DPR) is awaited. Land acquisition cases pertaining to 34 structures have been taken up under the Bottleneck Removal Component, of which two structures have already been acquired. An amount of Rs 700 lakh has been received for the removal of the bottleneck, of which Rs 20 lakh has been disbursed for the acquisition of two structures. The remaining amount is pending revalidation, while further acquisition will be undertaken subject to the availability of requisite funds, he added.
The Deputy Chief Minister also apprised the House of the progress on the Babapora-Haba Kadal Road, which has been substantially cleared, with only four structures remaining to be removed.
Regarding the Habba Kadal-Gowkadal Road, the Deputy Chief Minister informed the Assembly that 24 structures are presently pending acquisition. An amount of Rs 21 lakh is available for the project, while additional funds are required to complete the acquisition of the remaining structures and facilitate further widening work.
On the Fateh Kadal to Habba Kadal via Chinkral Mohalla Road, the Deputy Chief Minister stated that the widening stretch involves 176 structures requiring acquisition and removal. Of these, 13 structures have been notified under Section 4, while 8 structures have already been acquired through the High-Level Committee. The acquisition and removal of the remaining structures will be taken up subject to the availability and release of the requisite funds.
“The Government acknowledges that certain stretches face delays due to active court litigations, missing Section 4 notifications, localized family title disputes, or ongoing compensation evaluations. Following the decisions of the 264th HLC meeting, the department is implementing the streamlined PNC mechanism to settle all pending land acquisition claims efficiently”, the Minster further said.
The Minister that the Department is coordinating closely with the Collector, Land Acquisition (PWD) to ensure seamless validation and timely release of remaining compensation funds to minimize public inconvenience and deliver a modernized road network for Srinagar.
MLA Hazratbal Salman Ali Sagar raised supplementary.
JKPCC ensures strict compliance with environmental norms for establishing stone crushers
517 units inspected since Jan, 2025; 229 legal notices, 146 closure directions issued: Javed Rana
The Government today informed the Legislative Assembly that the Jammu & Kashmir Pollution Control Committee (JKPCC) inspected 517 stone-crusher units across the Union Territory from January 2025 till date, issuing 229 legal notices and 146 closure directions for violation of environmental and pollution-control norms.
This was stated by Minister for Forest, Ecology & Environment, Javed Ahmed Rana, while replying to a question raised by MLA Ajaz Ahmad Jan.
The Minister said that in Kashmir Division, 318 crusher units were inspected, 154 legal notices issued and 112 closure orders issued. In Jammu Division, 199 inspections were conducted, resulting in 75 legal notices and 34 closure directions.
The Government stated these directions were issued under the relevant provisions of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981. The action was taken, among other reasons, against units found operating without the requisite NOC from the concerned Deputy Commissioner, without valid consent from the J&K Pollution Control Committee and without adequate or requisite pollution-control measures.
The Government also provided details of four stone crushers approved for establishment in Poonch district, from January 2025 till date, located at Seeri Chowana, Salotri and Bhainch areas, with the approvals granted in accordance with the prescribed norms and criteria.
Javed Rana stated that permissions for setting up and operating stone crushers in the Union Territory are being granted only after ensuring compliance with prescribed environmental norms, siting criteria and applicable regulations.
The minister stated that consents have been granted in accordance with the criteria and norms prescribed by the competent authority, while adhering to the environmental guidelines and siting criteria governing the establishment and operation of stone crushers in Jammu and Kashmir.
He further stated that the applicable framework includes the JKPCC Order No. 70 of 2025 dated May 9, 2025, along with the subsequent amendment to the Siting Criteria for establishment and operation of stone crushers in Jammu and Kashmir issued vide JKPCC Order No. 124-JKPCC of 2025 dated August 30, 2025.
The Government also informed the House that, from January 1, 2025 till date, 58 applications for consent to establish and operate stone crushers had been received. Of these, 27 applications were approved, 28 rejected, while one application is under process.
Steps taken to rationalize manpower in corporations, retrieve encroached SIDCO land: Dy CM
Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary today informed the Legislative Assembly that the Government has initiated measures to rationalize manpower across industrial corporations, address encroachment on SIDCO land and finalize the revised Industrial Policy for Jammu & Kashmir.
Replying to a question raised by MLA Chander Prakash Ganga, the Deputy Chief Minister stated that SICOP has 591 surplus staff following the closure/cessation of its Marketing Wing and Raw Material Depots. He said the surplus employees are presently engaged on 89-day arrangements.
He informed the House that J&K SIDCO is facing a shortage of regular manpower, particularly due to retirements. To meet the identified requirements, surplus staff from SICOP, along with personnel from J&K Cements Limited, have been deployed in SIDCO. Wherever required, skilled manpower is also being engaged through outsourcing to ensure smooth functioning of the Corporation, he added.
The Deputy Chief Minister further informed that 30 surplus employees from other Corporations have been deployed/utilized to augment manpower in Corporations facing shortages. The deployments have been made against identified manpower requirements for efficient functioning, he maintained.
On the issue of encroachment on SIDCO land at Balol, the Deputy Chief Minister said that an anti-encroachment drive had been conducted, resulting in the retrieval of 45 kanals of encroached land.
Regarding the remaining encroached land, he said the matter has been taken up with the District Administration through communications dated June 16, 2026 and August 29, 2026. He added that the Department is pursuing the matter with the District Administration and making all requisite efforts for early retrieval of the remaining land.
On the Government’s proposal to introduce a revised Industrial Policy addressing manpower, industrial land, infrastructure and investment promotion, the Deputy Chief Minister said that the draft revised Industrial Policy was placed in the public domain for suggestions and comments from stakeholders.
He informed the House that a committee under the chairmanship of the Administrative Secretary, Finance Department, was constituted by the General Administration Department to examine and consider suggestions/comments received from various stakeholders.
The committee has since held several rounds of meetings with stakeholders to deliberate upon their suggestions and incorporate appropriate inputs in the draft policy.
The Deputy Chief Minister stated that the revised Industrial Policy is presently at the final stage of consideration and is expected to be notified upon completion of the requisite formalities.
Chadoora main bridge restoration work underway: Dy CM
Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary today informed the Legislative Assembly that restoration work on the main bridge at Chadoora, which was declared unsafe and closed to vehicular traffic on November 28, 2025, is presently underway.
Replying to a question raised by MLA Ali Mohammad Dar regarding the status of bridges, the Deputy Chief Minister said that the Chadoora main bridge was technically inspected by NIT Srinagar, following which recommendations were received on February 2, 2026.
He informed the House that, based on the technical recommendations, a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for restoration/reconstruction of the bridge was prepared and Administrative Approval amounting to ₹999.54 lakh was accorded. The work was subsequently awarded on August 3, 2026 and is presently in progress.
Regarding the alternate bridge near New Bus Stand, Chadoora, the Deputy Chief Minister stated that the bridge has already been constructed. He said that ₹50 lakh has been provided under UT Capex 2026-27 for completion of its approach road.
He further informed that the land acquisition process and alignment feasibility for the approach road are presently under progress. The approach road and commissioning of the alternate bridge will be taken up thereafter, subject to completion of the requisite land acquisition and other related formalities.
On the status of the Hanjigund bridge, the Deputy Chief Minister said that it forms part of the work titled “Construction of Road (Diversion) from Hanjigund to Chadoora via Dawlatpora, including 1×35 metre span truss girder bridge,” sanctioned under NABARD.
He informed that the bridge, along with approximately 2.50 km of road, has been completed, with the overall physical progress of the project reaching 76 per cent.
The Deputy Chief Minister said that the work is nearing completion, except for a minor portion, which is also being addressed by the concerned authorities.
118 kms macdamised across Srinagar during current fiscal: Dy CM
