SRINAGAR: The Chief Secretary of Jammu and Kashmir, Atal Dulloo, reviewed the implementation of flagship urban development schemes across the Union Territory today, overseeing projects worth over Rs 7,200 crore under the Smart Cities Mission in Srinagar and Jammu, along with several ongoing schemes such as AMRUT 2.0, PMAY-Urban, and SBM 2.0.
The review, held in Jammu, focused on the performance of the Housing and Urban Development Department (H&UDD) and covered a wide range of urban infrastructure and reform-based programmes. Among the highlights, officials informed that 161 projects worth Rs3,634 crore are being implemented in Srinagar, while 127 projects costing Rs 3,581 crore are in progress in Jammu.
The Srinagar Smart City projects include heritage restoration, mobility enhancement, public infrastructure, and riverfront development. Ongoing works valued at Rs 203.47 crore include the Traditional Souq Market and Craft Centre at Batamaloo and the Jhelum Waterfront Development Phase-2. In Jammu, Rs 529 crore worth of work is underway on projects such as the Tawi Riverfront Development and an oceanarium at Bagh-e-Bahu.
Under the PM eBus Sewa scheme, 100 AC eBuses each have been approved for Jammu and Srinagar. The Government of India has committed full funding for behind-the-meter infrastructure and up to Rs 20 crore for depots. DPRs for depot infrastructure and substations in both cities have received approval from the Central Steering Committee.
The meeting also discussed the progress of PMAY-Urban. Under the BLC vertical, 27,439 houses have been completed with an expenditure of Rs 496.15 crore, including ₹40 crore in central assistance released during February–March 2025. J&K has signed a Memorandum of Agreement with MoHUA to extend PMAY-U 2.0 to all 78 urban local bodies. A digital survey app and verification committees are being used to identify and confirm eligible houseless beneficiaries. Beneficiaries will receive Rs 2.25 lakh from the Centre and ₹0.25 lakh from the UT under BLC and AHP components.
Regarding SBM-U 2.0, facilities for waste segregation, composting, C&D waste processing, and legacy waste bioremediation are at various stages of implementation across 78 ULBs, all of which have been declared “Safaimitra Surakshit Sheher” by the Government of India.
The meeting noted that of the Rs 61.77 crore received under DAY-NULM, Rs 55.54 crore has been utilised. A new mission titled Deendayal Jan Aajeevika Yojana (Shehri) is being designed to replace NULM, focusing on livelihoods, skilling, SHGs, and enterprise promotion.
Under the PMSVANidhi scheme, 23,695 street vendors have been registered against a target of 25,856. Of these, 17,219 have received the first tranche of loans, 7,611 the second, and 2,952 the third. Letters of recommendation have been issued to 22,504 vendors.
Further, a new online Building Permission System will be operational within two months. The Srinagar Water Transport Project, covering routes from Anantnag to Wular Lake via Jhelum and Dal Lake, is also progressing. A partnership with Kochi Water Metro for strategic support is being finalised, and tendering for infrastructure and operations is underway.
Also present in the meeting were Commissioner Secretary H&UDD, Mandeep Kaur; CEO Srinagar Smart City, Owais Ahmad; CEO Jammu Smart City, Devansh Yadav; MD Housing Board, Shahbaz Mirza; MD NULM and senior officials of the department.
