J&K approves Rs 1,665 Cr for urban development

Srinagar, Mar 14: The Jammu and Kashmir government is making rapid strides in urban development with a focus on infrastructure, housing, waste management, and smart city initiatives.
As part of the transformation, 153 projects worth Rs1,665.10 crore have been approved under AMRUT 2.0 to improve water supply, sewerage systems, and the rejuvenation of water bodies. Out of these, 127 project DPRs have been prepared, with tenders floated for 88 projects worth Rs773.37 crore and 36 projects already allotted.
In a major boost to housing, 27,793 dwelling units have been completed under PMAY (U), with remaining units at various stages. 336 houses have also been reconstructed and allotted under the Affordable Rental Housing Complexes (ARHCs) at Sunjwan, Jammu, benefiting thousands of residents.
Under the Smart City Mission, J&K has executed 289 projects, completing 260 projects worth Rs 6,358.31 crore, while 29 projects worth Rs 857.58 crore are under execution. To enhance public transport, the government has introduced 200 e-buses (100 each in Jammu & Srinagar) with real-time tracking and digital ticketing solutions.
J&K has also achieved 100% door-to-door waste collection in urban areas, with 82% waste segregation at source and 30% waste processing. All 78 Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) are now Open Defecation-Free (ODF)-certified. Bioremediation of 3.88 lakh metric tonnes of legacy waste has been completed at several sites, including Bhagwati Nagar, Samba, Udhampur, and Anantnag.
Under the PM-SVANidhi scheme, 27,488 street vendors have received Rs 46.19 crore in financial aid, with Rs 1.30 crore in interest subvention to support dignified livelihoods. Additionally, 863 urban youths have been assisted under self-employment programs, and 90,571 Self-Help Groups (SHGs) have been established, engaging 8 lakh families in income-generating activities.
Women empowerment has also seen a boost, with 29,000 Lakhpati Didis generating livelihoods, while 40,000 more are being trained this year. In environmental conservation, river pollution control projects and Dal Lake restoration efforts have been intensified. Under the Aeration & Fountains programme, 761 fountains have been installed across 7 clusters, with 1,300 more planned at a cost of Rs 8.71 crore.