KL Report

SRINAGAR

Srinagar Master Plan would be put in the public domain soon to seek suggestions from the people on the Land Use plan for proposed Greater Srinagar Metropolitan Area.

This was announced at the Technical Committee meeting on the Master Plan held here Saturday under the chairmanship of Vice-Chairman, Srinagar Development Authority Muhammad  Shafi Rather.

Vice-Chairman, Lakes and Waterways Development Authority (LAWDA), Irfan Yasin, Commissioner SMC, Dr G N Qasba, Chief Engineer R&B Kashmir, M A Lone, Chief Town Planner Kashmir, Hakeem Iftikhar, Chief Architect J&K, V C Pant and Architectural Consultant, Muneer Ahmad Khan were present at the meeting.

The members of the Technical Committee after taking a detailed review of the draft Master Plan, put forth certain suggestions to be incorporated in the Land Use Plan including keeping greater provision for flyovers, widened road networks, subways, dedicated parking lots, recreational facilities and new housing and commercial centers. At the same time, it stressed the need for having a Master Plan that goes in tune with the socio-economic profile of the Srinagar city.

According to a press statement of the SDA, a threadbare discussion was held on various contours of the Master Plan with the meeting hailing earmarking special hubs for various specialized activities including education, information technology, industry, agro activities, tourism, handicrafts and medical city.

The meeting was informed that after incorporating the feasible suggestions put forth by the members of the Technical Committee in the Master Plan, the document would go the Minister for Urban Development, Nawang Rigzin Jora for interim approval. “Immediately after the approval of the Minister the draft Master Plan would be hosted on SDA website to seek suggestions and objections from the general public,” the Vice-Chairman SDA informed the meeting. He said the draft Master Plan would be put in the public domain by the second week of August.

The meeting was informed that for the first time the Srinagar Master Plan would include the Zonal Plans, wherein the land use plan would be enumerated at the micro-level.

The midterm review of the Srinagar Master Plan 2000-2021 was undertaken by SDA in February 2012 to suggest ways and means to make the document more realistic and implementable in consonance with the ground realities besides taking care of inaccuracies in the existing Mater Plan.

Pertinently, SDA Board last month approved extension of Greater Srinagar local area from the existing 417 kms to 757 kms.

SDA has proposed extension of the existing City limits towards South, West and Northern directions along the new motorway coming up from Gallandar via Narbal upto Ganderbal. In the extended Greater Srinagar local area, 410 sq kms will fall under SDA limits against existing 160 kms, 240 sq kms under Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) limits, 50 kms under Ganderbal, 35 kms under Budgam, 9 kms under Pampore, 7.5 kms under Khrew and 5.2 kms under Cantonment area.

As per the new Master Plan, the boundaries of Greater Srinagar would encompass Dara-Fakri and Dachigam National Park on Northeast, Zabarwan hills from Khunmoh towards Khrew on the East, Kakapora Railway Station on Southeast, Budgam local area upto Gallandar on South, Mazhama Railway station & road towards Gulmarg on the Southwest and Buran, Ganepur in Pattan towards the West.

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