Srinagar, Feb 12: The Jammu and Kashmir government on Thursday said that while no specific data is available regarding congestion caused by unplanned urbanisation in Srinagar city, the Master Plan 2035 has been framed to address the long-term residential and developmental needs of the city through sustainable and planned urban growth.
The reply came in the Legislative Assembly to a question tabled by MLA Salman Sagar, who had raised concerns that several areas of Srinagar, particularly downtown and other densely populated localities, are facing severe congestion due to inadequate housing infrastructure.
Responding to whether the government intends to create a “Greater Srinagar” to decongest overcrowded areas, the government stated that the Master Plan 2035 already covers a broader metropolitan region and takes into account the expansion and planning requirements of the city. The plan aims to guide structured development and reduce pressure on the existing urban core.
The government further informed the House that the Srinagar Development Authority has proposed the development of a Satellite Township over 150 hectares of land along the National Highway Bypass at Bemina (Rakh Gund Aksha). The proposed township will include plotted and flat residential units along with commercial and business centres, office spaces and recreational facilities. The project is intended to create an organised urban extension to accommodate growing housing demand.
It also said that several housing colonies are proposed to be developed by the J&K Housing Board in adjoining areas of Srinagar and other districts of the Kashmir Division. A housing colony at Chatterhama in Srinagar is under proposal, and Almondz Global Securities Private Limited has been engaged as the Transaction Advisor for the project.
A housing colony with flatted accommodation at Bakoora in Ganderbal has been approved in the 52nd Board of Directors meeting held on December 10, 2025, and will be developed under a Self-Financing Scheme, it said, adding that an Integrated Mass Housing Colony is also proposed at Watapora in Bandipora district.
Similarly, a Mass Housing Colony with flatted accommodation is proposed at Padgampura in Pulwama district under the Public-Private Partnership mode, for which CiTaG has been engaged as the Transaction Advisor, it said.
In a reply that a large number of families in Srinagar are living under one roof due to a shortage of houses, which has adversely affected their dignity, health and quality of life, the government confirmed that these housing initiatives are aimed at creating planned residential colonies equipped with basic civic amenities to meet rising demand and ease congestion in the city.
