Mass Housing Colony Planned at Padgampora; Master Plans for Awantipora, Kupwara and Pulwama Near Completion | Kashmir Life

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir government has outlined a series of housing and urban planning initiatives across Kashmir, including a proposed mass housing colony in Pulwama and the finalisation of key master plans, the details of which were placed before the Assembly.

The Jammu and Kashmir Housing Board has proposed to develop a Mass Housing Colony (Flatted) on 30 kanals of land at Padgampora in Pulwama district. The project is aimed at catering to Middle-Income Group (MIG) and High-Income Group (HIG) categories. Fencing of the site and construction of a culvert have already been completed, paving the way for further development.

On the planning front, the Master Plan for Awantipora has been approved under Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT-II). The initiative focuses on preparation of GIS-based Master Plans for Class-II towns with populations between 50,000 and 99,000. The work has been undertaken by SPA Delhi, a centre of excellence under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, and is expected to be completed shortly.

Similarly, the Town Planning Organisation, Kashmir, has entrusted the preparation of Master Plans for Kupwara and Pulwama towns to Institute for Spatial Planning and Environment and Research. These plans are also nearing completion.

The government also informed that the Srinagar Master Plan-2035 came into effect on March 7, 2019, under Section 11 of the JK Development Act, 1970. Following a decision to undertake a short-term review of the plan, the Srinagar Development Authority initiated the review process in response to public concerns. In June 2022, objections and suggestions were invited from stakeholders and the general public. Around 140 submissions were received, examined and deliberated upon by a committee constituted by the SDA. The final revised document has been prepared and is currently under consideration for Cabinet approval.

Meanwhile, two projects, a Conference Hall and a Marriage Hall at the Municipal Committee Pulwama — approved during the financial year 2022–23, have faced considerable delays. The government attributed the delay to late preparation of Detailed Project Reports (DPRs), delay in according technical sanction by the R and B Department, and non-availability of suitable land.

After more than two years, technical sanctions for both DPRs were accorded by the competent authority of the R and B Department during the financial year 2025–26. However, the DPRs had been framed as per the Schedule of Rates (SoR) 2018. In light of the revised SoR 2022, the DPRs now require revision before execution.

The government stated that subject to completion of land transfer formalities and revision of DPRs in accordance with SoR 2022, both projects are expected to be taken up for execution in the forthcoming financial year.