Srinagar, Sept 25: Several key developmental projects in Baramulla town, including a multi-level car parking facility, three entry gates and the Municipal Council office building, have missed their originally envisaged timelines due to land-transfer issues, local objections, inter-departmental clearances, court proceedings and security-related restrictions.
The details were provided by the government in reply to a starred question raised by MLA Javid Hassan Baig in the Legislative Assembly.
According to the reply, 14 developmental works worth Rs 24.62 crore have been taken up in Baramulla town under the Capex Budget. Against the total project cost of Rs 2,462.67 lakh, an expenditure of Rs 445.24 lakh had been incurred up to March 2026. During the current financial year, Rs 25 lakh has been utilised against Rs 130.60 lakh released for the works.
Of the 14 projects, three have been completed, while the remaining works are at different stages of execution.
The government said the multi-level car parking project near the R&B Office, Baramulla, received administrative approval on October 10, 2025. However, work could not commence as the land owned by the PWD (R&B) has not yet been transferred to the Municipal Council.
The site also has popular trees requiring valuation, auction and removal by the Forest Department, besides an old building that needs assessment and completion of prescribed procedures for its disposal or removal. The government said these pre-construction formalities are currently being processed.
For the three entry gates at Baramulla, administrative approval was accorded on September 20, 2025. Work at Janbazpora and Khowjabagh was affected by objections from local residents, forcing a change in the proposed locations. Work at the new Khowjabagh site is currently under progress.
At Khanpora, the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) raised objections, prompting modification of the approved design and relocation of the gate. Joint site visits by BRO and R&B authorities were conducted on June 13 and June 21, 2026, after which revised locations were proposed.
Work at the newly identified Khanpora site progressed up to the column level but was subsequently stopped after BRO informed authorities that the location had been provided inadvertently and could not be permitted for continuation. The government said efforts are now underway to identify alternative sites at Janbazpora and Khanpora.
The Double Storey Municipal Council Building received administrative approval on December 22, 2021. Its G+2 skeleton structure was completed in November 2024, but further work was halted following court proceedings linked to a land dispute involving the Municipal Council and an adjoining private property holder.
The project also remained affected by security-related restrictions until March 2026. Subsequently, the Municipal Council submitted an affidavit undertaking compliance with security conditions prescribed by the military authorities, following which construction resumed.
The government said the truss work has now been completed and brickwork is around 80 per cent complete, with the remaining work under execution.
On whether action was being contemplated against executing agencies or officers for failing to complete the projects within the stipulated timeframe, the government said the works had not been completed as originally envisaged. However, it attributed the delays to site-specific, statutory, court-related, security-related and inter-departmental issues, which it said were, to a substantial extent, beyond the immediate control of the executing agencies.
The concerned agencies have been directed to complete pending formalities and maintain the pace of work to ensure early completion of the projects.
