SRINAGAR: The Centre has said 282 of the 288 projects sanctioned under the Smart Cities Mission for Jammu and Srinagar had been completed by March 31, 2026, putting the overall completion rate at 98 per cent, while stating that no inquiry has been initiated into allegations of financial irregularities or project mismanagement.
Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs Tokhan Sahu provided the information in a written reply to an Unstarred Question in the Rajya Sabha.
According to the Ministry, the 288 projects were sanctioned at a total cost of Rs 6,603 crore, of which 282 projects involving Rs 6,472 crore have been completed. Six projects remain under implementation.
Jammu has completed 125 of its 127 sanctioned projects. The completed works are valued at Rs 2,940 crore against a total sanctioned cost of Rs 2,969 crore, while two projects remain ongoing.
In Srinagar, 157 of 161 projects have been completed, covering works worth Rs 3,532 crore against the sanctioned amount of Rs 3,634 crore. Four projects are still under implementation.
The Centre has released Rs 941 crore in financial assistance for the two cities, of which Rs 911 crore has been utilised, the Ministry said. Jammu has utilised Rs 459 crore out of Rs 489 crore claimed, while Srinagar has utilised the entire Rs 452 crore claimed from the Centre.
The Ministry attributed delays in some projects to various procedural and logistical difficulties, including delays in departmental clearances, land acquisition problems, construction challenges in hilly terrain, shortages of vendors and resources, and other implementation-related constraints.
On allegations concerning financial irregularities, poor-quality work, diversion of funds and project management lapses, the government said no inquiry, audit or investigation had been initiated.
It said the respective Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) are responsible for planning, execution, monitoring, fund management and evaluation of Smart City projects in the two cities.
Among the six projects still under implementation are the Oceanarium at Bagh-e-Bahu and rejuvenation of ponds and water bodies in Jammu.
The four ongoing projects in Srinagar comprise water transport services on the Jhelum and Dal Lake, a SCADA-based water management system, balance works at Goni Khan and Maharaj Bazaar, and the Srinagar Smart City Limited office with an Integrated Command and Control Centre sub-hub.
