‎‎Srinagar, Sep 29 (KNS): The GIS-based master planning exercise for 25 cities and towns in Jammu and Kashmir is progressing at widely different stages, with only Anantnag having reached the draft Master Plan stage, while 12 towns remain at the initial stages of the exercise.
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‎The status has been disclosed by the Housing and Urban Development Department in response to a question by MLA Pattan Javid Riyaz in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly.
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‎According to the department, 25 cities and towns have been approved under AMRUT 2.0 for formulation or review of GIS-based Master Plans, with the government stating that the plans are expected to be finalised during the current financial year.
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‎However, the stage-wise status annexed to the government reply shows that the exercise is at different levels of progress across the selected towns.
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‎Anantnag has progressed the furthest, with its Master Plan at the draft stage. The draft has been submitted, put in the public domain and is currently undergoing scrutiny of objections and suggestions.
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‎Bandipora-2046 is at the preliminary draft stage, with the draft submitted and scrutiny and examination under process.
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‎Six towns Kulgam, Baramulla, Sopore, Ganderbal, Awantipora and Shopian have progressed to various stages involving data analysis, projected requirements, identification of issues and preparation of preliminary proposals.
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‎Several other towns are still at the beginning of the exercise. Budgam, Kulgam, Baramulla and Sopore have entered stages involving collection and analysis of spatial, socio-economic and base-map data, while Kupwara has completed the approach and methodology, base-map and existing land-use stages.
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‎ A number of towns remain at the inception stage.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp ChannelBudgam, Kulgam, Baramulla, Sopore, Ganderbal, Awantipora and Shopian, besides several towns in Jammu division, are at different early stages of the planning process.
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‎Three towns Rajouri, Poonch and Kishtwar have not yet entered the detailed planning process.
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‎The government said their Development Authorities are under the administrative control of the Tourism Department and tenders for preparation of their Master Plans are expected to be floated shortly by the department.
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‎The government has already notified Master Plans for four major urban centres. The Srinagar Master Plan-2035 was notified in March 2019, while the Jammu Master Plan-2032, Udhampur Master Plan-2032 and Katra Master Plan-2031 were notified in March 2017 and April 2016 respectively.
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‎The government further said the review of the Jammu Master Plan-2032 is presently at the final stage.
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‎The exercise covers both preparation of new Master Plans and review of existing plans. The department said the GIS-based plans are intended to provide a planning framework for the selected cities and towns.
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‎According to the government, the 25-town exercise is being undertaken under AMRUT 2.0, with the objective of preparing GIS-based Master Plans for the identified urban areas. The government said the plans are expected to be finalised during the current financial year.
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‎The government has also constituted High-Level Vetting and Steering Implementation Committees for formulation, supervision, monitoring and vetting of Master Plans of 10 Tourism Development Authorities in the first phase, through an order issued by the General Administration Department on July 1, 2026.(KNS)