Jammu, Srinagar Master Plans Already Notified, 25 Additional Towns to Get GIS Plans | Kashmir Life

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir administration has approved GIS-based master plans for 25 towns under the AMRUT 2.0 scheme, and the master plan for Pattan has been awarded to the School of Planning and Architecture, Bhopal, an agreement for which was executed on September 10, 2025, the administration told the Legislative Assembly.

The Housing and Urban Development Department said the 25 towns have been approved for GIS master-plan formulation under AMRUT 2.0, and that work is at varying stages across the list. Pattan’s master plan contract was signed on September 10, 2025, with a six-month completion period; the department said the local area plan for Pattan has already been finalised, and work is in progress.

Officials told legislators that master plans for the two capital cities, Jammu and Srinagar, and for the towns of Udhampur and Katra, have already been notified. The reply added that tourism-oriented master plans for Patnitop, Pahalgam, Sonamarg and Gulmarg have also been formulated, notified and are under implementation to ensure planned development, infrastructure upgradation and systematic beautification.

The department said the AMRUT 2.0 approvals aim to provide GIS-enabled, standardised town plans to guide infrastructure investment and beautification. It said assignments for master-plan preparation have been allotted to national planning schools and regional institutes; work allocations and agreements have been signed on different dates depending on the town and the implementing agency.

Officials warned that timelines for execution will depend on the statutory clearance process and budgetary allocations. The assembly reply notes that “work is at different stages in respect of each city” and that projects will be executed in a phased manner, subject to competent authority approvals and availability of funds under the CAPEX and AMRUT programmes.

The department emphasised that master plans are intended to support infrastructure upgradation, regulate development and improve townscape aesthetics, while protecting local ecology and heritage. It said the formulation process includes preparation of local area plans and GIS mapping, and that public consultations will follow where required by statute.