Govt envisions 'Greater Srinagar' for sustainable urban growth
Srinagar, Feb 12: The J&K Government on Thursday said a 150-hectare land along National Highway Bypass, Bemina was under consideration, along with other colonies around Srinagar to address housing needs of Srinagar, and ensure dignified and healthy living conditions through expansion.
MLA Salman Sagar asked in the Legislative Assembly whether severe congestion was prevalent in downtown Srinagar due to unplanned urbanization and lack of adequate housing infrastructure. The Government in reply said no such data is available.
In reply to the query regarding creation of “Greater Srinagar” to ensure decongestion of over-crowded areas, the Housing and Urban Development Department, headed by Chief Minister, said, steps are underway under the Master Plan 2035 to address the city’s growing residential and developmental needs. These will cover Srinagar Metropolitan region and ensure a sustainable urban growth.
Sagar brought the attention of the Government to the fact that a large number of families in Srinagar are living under one-roof due to shortage of houses. The HUDD Department said the Srinagar Development Authority (SDA) has proposed the development of a Satellite Township spanning “150 hectares of land along the National Highway Bypass at Bemina (Rakh Gund Aksha)”. It said, the proposed township will include “plotted and flatted residential units along with commercial and business centres, offices, and recreational facilities”.
In addition, the government stated in the written reply, several housing colonies are being planned by the J&K Housing Board in adjoining areas of Srinagar. These, it said, include a housing colony at Chatterhama, Srinagar, for which “Almondz Global Securities Private Limited has been engaged as Transaction Advisor for providing advisory services”.
In December last year, in the 52nd Board of Directors meeting, a housing colony with flatted accommodation at Bakoora, Ganderbal was approved. This colony will be developed under the self-financing scheme.
The HUDD was also working on an Integrated Mass Housing Colony at Watapora in Bandipora district. Furthermore, a Mass Housing Colony with (flatted accommodation) at Padagampura, Pulwama was also proposed. This will be developed under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) mode. “CiTaG has been engaged as Transaction Advisor” for this project, the reply stated.
Separately, replying to a question by Javaid Riyaz Bedar, Government said 25 towns in J&K had been approved for formulation of GIS based master plans. Masterplans for major tourism development authorities in UT, including Gulmarg, Sonamarg, Patnitop and Pahalgam had been formulated and notified. These are in various stages of implementation and ensure systemic beautification of these tourist destinations by Tourism Departments.
