SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Government is facing an interest demand of Rs 3.84 crore from the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) over delayed payment of premium for land at Dwarka, even as the Union Territory moves ahead with plans to construct a new J&K House there and redevelop its sprawling property at 5-Prithviraj Road.
The DDA raised a demand of Rs 3,83,58,527 on September 1, 2026, towards interest on delayed payment of premium for the Dwarka land. The J&K Government has sought a detailed breakup from the authority, including the period of delay, applicable interest rates and basis of calculation, before taking further action.
The details were disclosed by the Hospitality and Protocol Department in reply to a Question tabled by MLA Irfan Hafiz Lone, seeking details of J&K Government properties and assets located outside Jammu and Kashmir and the steps being taken for their development and protection.
J&K has acquired 0.786 acre of land at Sector-19, Dwarka, from DDA on perpetual leasehold basis at an estimated cost of Rs 36.05 crore for construction of a J&K House. The government has approved the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) as the executing agency.
A draft Memorandum of Understanding submitted by CPWD has been legally vetted by the Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Department and sent to the Finance Department for vetting. CPWD has already received Rs 4.68 lakh for topographical survey and soil investigation, both of which have been completed and the report submitted to the Resident Commission Office in New Delhi.
The next stages include preparation of the Detailed Project Report, Administrative Approval and Expenditure Sanction, Technical Sanction and other requisite approvals. The construction is also linked to execution of the lease deed with DDA.
At 5-Prithviraj Road, where J&K has a 41-kanal-12-marla property spread over about 5.20 acres, the government has received a proposal from PWD (R&B), Sub-Division III, New Delhi, for limited redevelopment of the J&K House.
The proposal envisages demolition of the existing staff quarters and construction of a new guest house block comprising diplomatic suites, 15 deluxe rooms and 10 executive rooms. The proposal is currently under examination and further action will depend on approval by the competent authority and availability of funds.
The government’s property portfolio in Delhi also includes the J&K Guest House at Chanakyapuri, spread over 11 kanals and 18.2 marlas; Kashmir House at Rajaji Marg, spread over 114 kanals and 11.2 marlas, of which 18 kanals are in J&K Government possession while around 96 kanals are occupied by the Ministry of Defence; the BR-II premises at Shalimar Bagh measuring 4,000 square metres; and property at Baba Kharak Singh Marg measuring 362.68 square metres.
Beyond Delhi, the government has properties in Chandigarh, Amritsar and Mumbai, besides the ongoing development of a J&K House at Kharghar in Navi Mumbai.
In Chandigarh, J&K owns SCO Nos. 28-31 in Sector 17A, spread over 679.43 square metres. The property has been identified for conversion into a J&K Guest House after the earlier guest house at Sector 5/37 was allotted to the UT of Ladakh.
In Amritsar, the government has the J&K House on Court Road, spread over 19 kanals, as well as 32 kanals and nine marlas of land at Daim Ganj/Tapai Road. The latter has been embroiled in longstanding litigation and encroachment proceedings. The government said major portions measuring 24 kanals and four marlas have been recovered, while another 8 kanals and five marlas remain subject to legal proceedings.
The Mumbai properties have a more complicated legal history. J&K owns government land measuring approximately 5,802 square yards at 19 L.D. Ruparel Marg, formerly 10 Napean Sea Road, which was leased following a 1979 Cabinet decision and subsequent government order.
The land was initially leased in 1981 and later formalised through a registered lease deed in 2002 in favour of M/s Samnagur Investment Pvt. Ltd., nominee/assignee of M/s Sanghvi Construction Pvt. Ltd., for 90 years. The lease carried a premium of Rs 205 lakh and annual ground rent of Rs 5 lakh.
The government said a portion of the leased premises was occupied by Union Bank of India without the consent or authorisation of the J&K Government, which it termed a violation of the lease conditions. The matter has been referred for legal action, with the Law Department advising finalisation of a legal notice through the concerned counsel.
The government is also in possession of a 5,672-square-foot duplex flat on the second floor of the Haveli Building in Mumbai, acquired through arbitration on April 10, 2002. The premises have been used as a government guest house since 2002 and comprise two VIP suites and three guest rooms.
A committee constituted by the J&K Government through Government Order No. 933-JK(GAD) of 2023 dated August 7, 2023, to examine alleged violations of the lease agreement with Sanghvi Construction, has held a series of meetings. Its findings and report, however, are still awaited.
The government has also begun developing another J&K property at Kharghar, Navi Mumbai, where it has 0.5 acre of land acquired on a long-term lease from CIDCO. An architectural firm has prepared a DPR for a four-storeyed guest house estimated to cost Rs 29.25 crore. J&K took possession of the land on May 3, 2023, and has already constructed the boundary wall.
The Maharashtra Public Works Department has been approved as the executing agency for the Kharghar project on deposit-work basis. The DPR has been submitted to Maharashtra PWD, which has directed that it be revised according to Maharashtra PWD rates. The draft MoU from the agency is awaited.
