Jammu: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday reviewed urban development projects and directed that local legislators and stakeholders be taken on board at the planning and implementation stages to ensure smooth execution.
He instructed that periodic progress reports be submitted to his office and any bottlenecks be flagged and resolved in a time-bound manner.
Reviewing the projects of the Housing & Urban Development Department being implemented under the scheme, Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI), the chief minister observed that the projects have the potential to significantly improve urban liveability, strengthen heritage conservation and boost tourism in urban centres. He emphasised that all works must be people-centric, environmentally sustainable and aligned with long-term urban planning goals, an official press release said.
It said he also directed that local legislators and stakeholders be taken on board at the planning and implementation stages to ensure smooth execution. He instructed that periodic progress reports be submitted to his office and any bottlenecks be flagged and resolved in a time-bound manner.
The meeting was attended by Advisor to the Chief Minister Nasir Aslam Wani, Additional Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister Dheeraj Gupta, Principal Secretary Finance Santosh D. Vaidya,, Commissioner Secretary, H&UDD, Mandeep Kaur, Deputy Commissioner Anantnag Fakhruddin Hamid, Commissioner, Jammu Municipal Corporation & CEO, Jammu Smart City Limited Devansh Yadav, Commissioner, Srinagar Municipal Corporation & CEO, Srinagar Smart City Limited Fazlul Haseeb, Vice Chairman Lakes & Conservation Development Authority, Director General Budget Mohammad Sultan Malik and other concerned officers.
Earlier, the respective CEOs of the Smart City Limited presented detailed updates on projects being taken up under the SASCI Scheme funded by the Government of India.
The CEO, Jammu Smart City Limited, informed that several projects are being undertaken to address issues such as heritage conservation, traffic congestion, drainage, unorganised vending, unplanned utilities and underdeveloped heritage corridors. To ensure sustainability, a series of integrated urban interventions have been proposed under the Scheme.
He further informed that revitalisation of the CBD and the historic core is a key component of the plan. The proposed interventions include construction of multi-level car parking facilities at congested locations such as Parade Ground, Mubarak Mandi, Jewel Chowk, Gandhi Nagar–Warehouse and Tanga Stand–Gumat Bazaar. Other projects include utility upgradation and beautification works, development of a Temple Corridor connecting Bawe Mata, Har Ki Pauri and Mahamaya, construction of a model vegetable mandi at the Sabzi Mandi, a shopping complex at Indira Chowk and a clock tower (Ghanta Ghar) at Parade Chowk.
CEO, Srinagar Smart City Limited, presented the proposed neighbourhood development and revitalisation of the Nigeen Lake waterfront. He informed that a 4.5-km-long Nigeen Lake frontage will be developed with continuous public access, development and upgradation of ghats, upgradation of Cherry Park and comprehensive redevelopment of the precinct in the area which would significantly enhance public amenities and tourism potential.
He also briefed the meeting about restoration of Qalai Andar (Walled City of Srinagar), including improvement of public spaces, conservation of heritage structures, creation of green spaces and restoration of key gateways such as Kathi Darwaza, Sangeen Darwaza and Bacchi Darwaza, along with improved drainage and pedestrian-friendly pathways. Public spaces at Devi Angan will also be enhanced.
He further apprised the meeting about the proposed Greenfield development at Anantnag near KP Road, including riverfront development with an eco-park, city park, cycle tracks, pathways, gazebos, kiosks and construction of a smart library near Aaripat Nallah.
Meanwhile, the Chief Minister today chaired a meeting to review tourism promotion and publicity activities of the Tourism department with a focus on enhancing the J&K’s visibility and increasing visitor engagement to further strengthen J&K’s tourism profile, an official press release said.
It said the chief minister directed the Tourism department to prepare an advance annual calendar of events to ensure better planning, effective execution and improved coordination. He stressed the need for high-quality, meaningful designs and effective presentation at national and international travel marts, and instructed that all stalls and promotional material must reflect the true strength and potential of J&K tourism.
Directing targeted promotional strategies, the chief minister said that tourism publicity and advertising should be focused on airports with high footfall of tourists in cities such as Jaipur, Udaipur and Goa. He asked the department to identify the top ten airports in the country in terms of tourist traffic and undertake focused advertising and marketing campaigns at these locations.
The chief minister also called for early finalisation of dates for the Kashmir Marathon and stressed on incentivizing participation of local and national-level runners and enthusiasts by having a wide spread of prizes so that it encourages greater participation. He directed that a title sponsor should be identified for the Kashmir Marathon on the pattern of major marathon events such as the Delhi and Mumbai Marathons. He further suggested introducing themed short-distance runs such as a “Tulip Run” during spring and a “Chrysanthemum Run” during the autumn season.
He emphasised the use of Virtual Reality (VR) technology at travel mart stalls, stating that immersive digital walk-throughs of destinations would generate greater interest and create a strong recall value among potential tourists.
Earlier, the Department of Tourism gave a presentation on publicity and promotion initiatives taken during 2025, highlighting a multi-pronged strategy to position Jammu and Kashmir as a leading all-season global tourism destination. It was informed that high-impact digital campaigns through social media, short videos, reels and airport screen promotions have significantly enhanced online engagement. The department’s official handles have crossed 10 lakh followers, registering over 300 percent growth in engagement and more than four million views across platforms.
The meeting was attended by Advisor to the Chief Minister Nasir Aslam Wani, Additional Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister Dheeraj Gupta, Additional Chief Secretary Tourism Ashish Chander Verma, Managing Director, J&K Tourism Development Corporation, Directors of Tourism Kashmir and Jammu, and other concerned officers.
