Rs 84.66 Cr Sanctioned for Two Industrial Biotech Parks in Jammu Kashmir; Kathua Ready, Handwara 75 Per Cent Complete | Kashmir Life

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir government has informed the Assembly that the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India, has sanctioned two Industrial Biotechnology Parks (IBTPs) for the Union Territory at a total project cost of Rs 84.66 crore, with construction completed at Kathua and 75 per cent work finished at Handwara.

Of the total sanctioned amount, Rs 24.66 crore constitutes the UT’s share. The project cost covers one-time construction and research equipment.

For the Jammu region, the Biotechnology Park is being established at Ghati, Kathua at a cost of Rs 42 crore. The government said construction and installation of equipment at the Kathua facility have been completed.

In the Kashmir region, the park is being set up at Baripora, Handwara at a cost of Rs 42.66 crore. Construction work at Handwara is nearly 75 per cent complete, while installation of equipment is in the pipeline.

Both parks are being implemented by Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (IIIM-CSIR), Jammu, with its Director serving as Principal Investigator.

At Kathua, a BioNEST incubation facility has been created with support from the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), Government of India, to promote biotech start-ups and entrepreneurship. Appointment of supporting manpower through outsourcing mode is under process.

A Biotechnology Parks Society, constituted by the General Administration Department under the Science and Technology Department, will take over the projects on a long-term basis. The Finance Department has set a target in the budget announcements to make both parks functional in the coming financial year.

The department said funds will be required for hiring scientific manpower, installation of power connections, payment of lease and water charges to Jammu and Kashmir State Industrial Development Corporation (SIDCO), laboratory consumables, contingencies, upkeep of assets and buildings, and other operational activities.

Against an approved allocation of Rs 25 lakh for 2025–26, the anticipated expenditure is Rs 25 lakh to operationalise the parks.

The government stated that the twin biotechnology parks are aimed at strengthening research infrastructure, fostering innovation-driven enterprises, and creating high-skilled employment opportunities in both divisions of Jammu and Kashmir.