SRINAGAR: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah chaired a series of high-level meetings today to review proposed urban planning schemes aimed at fostering sustainable and planned urban development across Jammu and Kashmir. The discussions focused on transformative policies, including land pooling, transferable development rights (TDR), and transit-oriented development (TOD), alongside solid waste management strategies.
The Chief Minister was briefed on the Land Pooling Policy, which seeks to streamline urban development by allowing private landowners to pool their land for integrated development projects. A portion of the pooled land would be used for infrastructure such as roads, parks, and amenities, while the remainder would be returned to the original owners in proportion to their contributions. This approach is expected to boost land value and create better infrastructure, offering a sustainable alternative to traditional land acquisition methods, a DIPR statement issue from Jammu said.
The TDR Policy was also discussed in detail. It aims to provide compensation to landowners surrendering land for public purposes like road widening, conservation, and heritage preservation. In return, landowners would receive TDR certificates allowing them to use or sell additional Floor Area Ratio (FAR) rights. This initiative is designed to preserve heritage properties while enabling urban growth in congested areas.
The concept of TOD, which promotes compact, walkable urban spaces around transit hubs, was another focal point. This model aims to integrate sustainable urban mobility with planned infrastructure development near public transport stations.
Solid waste management strategies for municipalities and urban local bodies across Jammu and Kashmir were also deliberated. The Housing and Urban Development Department presented plans for waste segregation, recycling, and pollution control mechanisms, particularly for areas like Udhampur, where landfill dumping has caused significant issues. Proposed solutions include public-private partnership (PPP) models for waste disposal, road and drain cleaning, and waterbody restoration.
Representatives from the National Bank for Financing Infrastructure and Development (NaBFID) highlighted potential infrastructure projects to support urban development across the region.
The Chief Minister directed the Housing and Urban Development Department to prioritise pilot projects under land pooling, TDR, and TOD policies to establish successful models that could inspire broader adoption. He also stressed the need for effective implementation of solid waste management programmes to tackle pressing environmental challenges.
Senior officials, including Advisor to the Chief Minister Nasir Aslam Wani, Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, and Commissioner Secretary Housing and Urban Development Department Mandeep Kaur, attended the meetings. Officers based in Srinagar participated through video conferencing.
