Jammu: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday launched AI Centre of Excellence at Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Jammu for “developing technology-driven solutions to the UT’s challenges”
He also initiated Project Phoenix, which he said would promote entrepreneurship and self-employment among the youth.
The Artificial Intelligence (AI) Centre of Excellence has been established jointly by the Government of India, the Jammu and Kashmir government and IIT Jammu.
According to an official press release, addressing faculty, students, entrepreneurs, artisans and officials, the chief minister said Artificial Intelligence should be harnessed to improve governance and deliver tangible benefits to citizens.
“Artificial Intelligence must ultimately translate into better outcomes for people. The Centre of Excellence will help us build more efficient, responsive and citizen-centric governance, while Project Phoenix will create new opportunities for artisans, self-help groups, startups and MSMEs to access wider markets,” he said.
Highlighting the practical applications of AI, the chief minister said the technology should be deployed in sectors such as agriculture, healthcare, education and disaster management to bridge the urban-rural divide and improve public service delivery.
Referring to recent cloudbursts in Rajouri and Poonch, he stressed the need for AI-enabled early warning systems capable of identifying localised risks and saving lives through timely alerts. He also said AI could assist farmers and horticulturists by providing timely information on crop diseases, treatment and scientific use of agrochemicals.
The chief minister said Project Phoenix would complement the government’s flagship Mission YUVA initiative by strengthening market access, mentorship and incubation support for startups and local enterprises. He called for close collaboration between the government and IIT Jammu to build a vibrant innovation ecosystem capable of generating employment and attracting investment.
The J&K Artificial Intelligence Centre of Excellence, established at IIT Jammu with the support of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India, and the Information Technology Department, Government of Jammu & Kashmir, will serve as a hub for AI research, solution development, benchmarking, technology evaluation and deployment support, the press release said.
It said the Centre will work with government departments, academia, startups and industry partners to develop AI-enabled solutions for real-world challenges across sectors including governance, education, healthcare, agriculture, infrastructure and disaster management.
Project Phoenix is designed to connect artisans, self-help groups, cooperatives, startups, brands and MSMEs from Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh with national and global markets through a digital commerce platform offering simplified onboarding, product discovery and market access, the press release said.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister today inaugurated the upgraded Residency Road–High Street in Jammu, a landmark urban infrastructure project executed by Jammu Smart City Limited (JSCL) under the Smart City Mission at a cost of ₹9.18 crore, an official press release informed.
It said the project has transformed nearly 1.2 kilometres of the Residency Road–High Street corridor, covering the stretches from Raghunath Mandir to CM House, Vivekanand Chowk to Raghunath Mandir Chowk, and Vir Marg Chowk to Vivekanand Chowk.
As part of the upgradation, an underground communication corridor has been constructed and communication cables have been shifted underground to streamline utility infrastructure and enhance the area’s visual appeal. The project also includes the development of new paver-block footpaths, a bituminous concrete road surface and RCC drains, significantly improving civic infrastructure along the corridor.
The upgraded corridor is expected to enhance pedestrian convenience, improve traffic movement and utility management, and contribute to a cleaner, more organised urban environment while lending a renewed aesthetic character to one of Jammu city’s key commercial and civic corridors.
