Review Smart Cities, AMRUT, PMAY to fast-track urban transformation in J&K
FIRDOUS PARRAY
SRINAGAR, June 12:
In a significant move to fast-track urban transformation in Jammu and Kashmir, Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs, Shri Manohar Lal, met with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in Srinagar today to review the progress of major urban development schemes across the Union Territory. The high-level meeting brought together senior officials from both the Central and UT governments, reflecting a strong spirit of cooperative federalism aimed at enhancing infrastructure and improving the quality of life in cities and towns of J&K.
The meeting saw a detailed evaluation of ongoing projects under flagship schemes of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, including AMRUT and its second phase, the Smart Cities Mission, Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban), PMAY (Urban), DAY-NULM, PM SVANidhi, and the recently launched PM-eBus Sewa. The review focused on accelerating implementation, addressing bottlenecks, and ensuring timely delivery of services to the people.
Union Minister Manohar Lal praised the growing synergy between the Centre and the UT administration, stating that Jammu and Kashmir is receiving the full benefit of central urban initiatives. He emphasized that the government is committed to promoting inclusive urban development through better planning, public-private partnerships, and sustainable infrastructure.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who also holds the charge of the urban development portfolio in the UT, briefed the Union Minister on the state’s progress and ongoing challenges. The discussions focused on expediting projects under AMRUT 2.0, particularly those related to water supply and sewerage in urban local bodies, and completing remaining works under the Smart Cities Mission, including upgrading Integrated Command and Control Centres and revisiting the structure of Special Purpose Vehicles.
The Union Minister also reviewed the progress under the CITIIS initiative, which aims to revolutionize waste management and promote climate-resilient infrastructure. He advised the J&K Government to establish a dedicated State Climate Centre for Cities to ensure smooth fund flow and timely execution of climate-sensitive urban projects.
Noting a significant increase of over ₹200 crore in allocation under Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban 2.0, the Minister urged the administration to intensify the construction of community and public toilets, improve solid waste management systems, and work towards achieving garbage-free city status. He also acknowledged the submission of over 19,000 applications under PMAY-U 2.0 and instructed the UT authorities to expedite verification processes to ensure housing benefits reach deserving families without delay.
Progress under PMAY-U 1.0, especially the completion of partially constructed houses, was also discussed. The Union Minister called for urgent action under the DAY-NULM scheme, particularly in identifying urban homeless and establishing a grievance redressal mechanism under the Street Vendors Act.
On the PM SVANidhi front, the focus was on quick processing of vendor applications and encouraging more women to avail benefits under the scheme. The implementation status of the PM-eBus Sewa, including fund mapping and the UT’s participation in the Payment Security Mechanism, also came under review.
Union Minister Manohar Lal reiterated that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of the nation’s growth story and called for robust execution of urban projects to ensure ease of living for its citizens. He underlined the importance of strategic planning, timely completion, and community participation to transform the urban landscape of the region.
The meeting concluded with a shared commitment from both the Centre and the UT to work in unison to ensure that the benefits of urban development reach every corner of Jammu and Kashmir in a time-bound and effective manner.
