SRINAGAR, Oct 29: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah held a comprehensive review of the Housing & Urban Development Department (H&UDD) at the Civil Secretariat today, focusing on enhancing urban planning efforts to effectively manage urban growth.
The review meeting aimed to evaluate the department’s progress, identify challenges, and set priorities for various urban development projects. It commenced with a detailed presentation by Commissioner Secretary Mandeep Kaur, who outlined the functioning of H&UDD and its affiliated organizations.
Discussions during the meeting covered central funding for various schemes, departmental needs, and key issues such as policy gaps, outdated master plans, and overlapping mandates of development authorities. There were also concerns raised about rationalizing human resources and ensuring the long-term viability of Smart City initiatives.
Chief Minister Abdullah emphasized the critical importance of strengthening town planning to address urban growth effectively. “The effectiveness of our town planning will determine the future livability of our cities,” he remarked, stressing that urban planning must be resilient to meet the demands of a growing population.
The meeting also focused on organization-specific issues, policy reform initiatives, and updates on projects implemented by Jammu Smart City Limited and Srinagar Smart City Limited. The Chief Minister reviewed detailed project proposals and their current statuses, urging prompt action and accountability to drive visible progress.
In discussing the e-bus project under FAME-II and the PM e-bus Sewa scheme, he directed an increase in e-bus frequency on city routes and instructed that these routes be expanded to include key hospitals. “Citizens need reliable and accessible transport options. Connecting e-buses to hospitals and high-demand areas is essential for a responsive urban transport network,” he stated.
Additionally, the meeting reviewed major urban development schemes, including CITIIS 2.0, AMRUT 2.0, PMAY (Urban), the National Urban Livelihood Mission, and the National Clean Air Programme. Abdullah encouraged the department to address bottlenecks in project implementation, stating, “Efficient execution of these programs can transform our cities into cleaner, more sustainable spaces for all residents.”
The Chief Minister reaffirmed his government’s commitment to a holistic and sustainable urban development approach, aiming to enhance the quality of life for all urban residents of Jammu and Kashmir.
The meeting was attended by Advisor to the Chief Minister Nasir Aslam Wani, Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, Additional Chief Secretary to the CM Dheeraj Gupta, Commissioner Secretary H&UDD Mandeep Kaur, Divisional Commissioners of both Kashmir and Jammu Divisions, and Commissioners of Srinagar and Jammu Municipal Corporations, among others.
