KULGAM: A stakeholder consultation meeting on the preparation of a GIS-based Master Plan for Kulgam town under the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) 2.0 was held at the Mini-Secretariat here on Tuesday, with discussions focusing on the town’s planned development up to 2047.
The meeting was attended by MLAs Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami and Peerzada Feroze Ahmad, Commissioner Secretary Housing and Urban Development Department Mandeep Kaur, Deputy Commissioner Kulgam, senior officials of the Housing and Urban Development Department, AMRUT 2.0, Urban Local Bodies and Town Planning Department, besides representatives of various stakeholder groups.
Officials said the proposed master plan seeks to position Kulgam as a regional agro-logistics and district service hub while ensuring sustainable urban growth, improved connectivity, economic development and better quality of life.
Key proposals discussed included strengthening agro-logistics and mandi infrastructure, development of a multispecialty hospital, expansion of educational facilities, creation of decentralised parks and recreational spaces, augmentation of the water supply network, improved parking and traffic management, bypass-oriented development and mixed-use land use planning.
Representatives of market associations, traders, transporters, fruit growers, former Panchayati Raj Institution members, civil society groups and residents submitted suggestions for incorporation into the plan. Participants stressed the need for a long-term planning framework that balances urban expansion with environmental protection, infrastructure development and preservation of natural resources.
Special emphasis was laid on river-sensitive development along the Vishaw River, including proposals for public riverfront spaces and measures to strengthen flood resilience. Participants also highlighted the need to protect water bodies and environmentally sensitive areas from dumping and other potentially polluting activities.
Addressing the meeting, Mandeep Kaur stressed the importance of ensuring that future construction remains planned, safe and compatible with surrounding land use. She said the master plan should clearly define permissible activities in different zones and prevent unsuitable development in environmentally sensitive areas.
The meeting also discussed the formulation of local development by-laws and a shift towards a more flexible and mixed-use planning framework in line with Business Reform Action Plan (BRAP) guidelines.
Tarigami and Feroze Ahmad stressed that the master plan should reflect the aspirations and long-term interests of local residents and called for meaningful public participation in the planning process.
Senior district officers, including the Senior Superintendent of Police, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Additional District Development Commissioner and heads of various departments, attended the meeting along with representatives of trade, transport and community organisations.
Later, Commissioner Secretary Mandeep Kaur visited the waste dumping site at Lirow and the Animal Birth Control Centre in Kulgam to review existing facilities. She assessed sanitation and waste-management infrastructure and emphasised the need to strengthen civic amenities in line with the objectives of sustainable urban development.
