JAMMU: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday reviewed urban development projects and directed that local legislators and stakeholders be taken on board at the planning and implementation stages to ensure smooth execution.
He instructed that periodic progress reports be submitted to his office and any bottlenecks be flagged and resolved in a time-bound manner.
Abdullah reviewed the projects of the Housing and Urban Development Department being implemented under the Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI) scheme.
While assessing the proposals, he emphasised that all works must be people-centric, environmentally sustainable and aligned with long-term urban planning goals.
Earlier, the chief executive officers of the Jammu Smart City Limited and Srinagar Smart City Limited presented updates on projects being taken up under the scheme funded by the central government.
The CEO, Jammu Smart City Limited, said the sustainability, with revitalisation of the central business district (CBD) and the historic core, forms a key component of the proposals.
Some of the integrated projects include construction of multi-level car parking facilities at congested locations such as Parade Ground, Mubarak Mandi, Jewel Chowk, Gandhi Nagar–Warehouse and Tanga Stand–Gumat Bazaar.
Other projects include utility upgradation and beautification works, development of a temple corridor connecting Bawe Mata, Har Ki Pauri and Mahamaya, construction of a model vegetable mandi at Sabzi Mandi, a shopping complex at Indira Chowk and a clock tower (Ghanta Ghar) at Parade Chowk.
The CEO, Srinagar Smart City Limited, presented proposals for neighbourhood development and revitalisation of the Nigeen Lake waterfront. A 4.5-km-long Nigeen Lake frontage will be developed with continuous public access, upgradation of ghats, enhancement of Cherry Park and comprehensive redevelopment of the surrounding precinct to boost public amenities and tourism.
He also briefed the meeting on restoration of Qalai Andar, the Walled City of Srinagar, including conservation of heritage structures, improvement of public spaces, creation of green areas and restoration of key gateways such as Kathi Darwaza, Sangeen Darwaza and Bacchi Darwaza, along with improved drainage and pedestrian-friendly pathways. Public spaces at Devi Angan will also be enhanced.
The meeting was further apprised of the proposed Greenfield development at Anantnag near KP Road, including riverfront development with an eco-park, city park, cycle tracks, pathways, gazebos, kiosks and construction of a smart library near Aaripat Nallah.
Meanwhile, CM Omar Abdullah today also chaired a meeting to review tourism promotion and publicity activities of Tourism Department with a focus on enhancing the J&K’s visibility and increasing visitor engagement to further strengthen J&K’s tourism profile.
The Chief Minister directed the Tourism Department to prepare an advance annual calendar of events to ensure better planning, effective execution and improved coordination. He stressed the need for high-quality, meaningful designs and effective presentation at national and international travel marts, and instructed that all stalls and promotional material must reflect the true strength and potential of J&K tourism.
Directing targeted promotional strategies, the Chief Minister said that tourism publicity and advertising should be focused on airports with high footfall of tourists in cities such as Jaipur, Udaipur and Goa. He asked the department to identify the top ten airports in the country in terms of tourist traffic and undertake focused advertising and marketing campaigns at these locations.
The Chief Minister also called for early finalisation of dates for the Kashmir Marathon and stressed on incentivizing participation of local and national-level runners and enthusiasts by having a wide spread of prizes so that it encourages greater participation. He directed that a title sponsor should be identified for the Kashmir Marathon on the pattern of major marathon events such as the Delhi and Mumbai Marathons. He further suggested introducing themed short-distance runs such as a “Tulip Run” during spring and a “Chrysanthemum Run” during the autumn season.
He emphasised the use of Virtual Reality (VR) technology at travel mart stalls, stating that immersive digital walk-throughs of destinations would generate greater interest and create a strong recall value among potential tourists.
Earlier, the Department of Tourism gave a presentation on publicity and promotion initiatives taken during 2025, highlighting a multi-pronged strategy to position Jammu and Kashmir as a leading all-season global tourism destination. It was informed that high-impact digital campaigns through social media, short videos, reels and airport screen promotions have significantly enhanced online engagement. The department’s official handles have crossed 10 lakh followers, registering over 300 per cent growth in engagement and more than four million views across platforms.
The meeting was attended by Advisor to the Chief Minister Nasir Aslam Wani, Additional Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister Dheeraj Gupta, Additional Chief Secretary Tourism Ashish Chander Verma, Managing Director, J&K Tourism Development Corporation, Directors of Tourism Kashmir and Jammu, and other concerned officers.
