SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday clarified that the proposed townships in the Union Territory are aimed at decongesting urban areas and will exclusively accommodate local residents. He said that while no formal proposal for townships has been received yet, the government will work on them when required.
“We need to decongest Shehr-e-Khas, and for that, we have to relocate people. These townships will be for our own people. The aim is to develop satellite townships and new residential areas, not to settle outsiders,” Abdullah said.
Addressing the shortcomings of the Smart City project, he said the initiative could have been more effective under an elected government. He criticised the e-cycle and cycle path infrastructure. “They are rusting due to neglect. He also pointed out that multi-storey parking facilities remain empty and stressed the need to raise awareness among people to utilise them.”
On urban challenges, Abdullah highlighted solid waste management, drainage, and storage as pressing issues, citing the Achan dumping site as a crisis point. He also criticised the Smart City project’s execution, noting that footpaths were built on both sides of MA Road without proper drainage, a problem also seen in Jammu.
He assured that the Housing and Urban Development Department is making efforts to decongest cities and improve urban infrastructure for better living conditions.
