Jammu and Kashmir government has put on hold the draft master plan’s proposal to shift civil secretariat from Srinagar to Nowgam area given the opposition to the proposed move from various quarters.
The draft Master Plan for Srinagar-2035 had proposed shifting of administrative offices, including the civil secretariat and various other institutions to peripheries of the city in order to decongest the summer capital. “After threadbare deliberations, the committee to finalize the Master plan has decided to put on hold the proposal to shift the civil secretariat,” said a Housing and urban development department official who is part of the committee framed by state government to finalize the Master Plan for Srinagar. “Though, decision is technically sound keeping in view growing traffic congestion in the city. But somehow the committee felt that the time is not ripe as it has received opposition from political and social quarters.”
The draft plan, which was put in public domain last year by the Srinagar Development Authority (SDA) for suggestions, has recommended shifting of 24 offices located in the heart of the city, including the offices of the divisional commissioner Kashmir, deputy commissioner Srinagar and official accommodations of the deputy chief minister and the Chief Justice.
The other offices and institutions recommended for relocation are the Biscoe School, offices of the Director School Education Kashmir, Fire and Emergency Services at Batamaloo, Director Information, DIG Traffic, Directorate of Agriculture at Lal Mandi, Forest Department at Lal Chowk; the Chest Diseases Hospital, the Psychiatric Diseases hospital, Central Jail Badamwari, Leper Colony and Leper Hospital, Doordarshan Kendra Srinagar, CAPD godowns at Shaheed Gunj, old Assembly Complex and old Secretariat Complex.
The draft plan suggests shifting the civil secretariat to Nowgam, near the Railway Station, and using the secretariat building for accommodating all divisional and district offices. It also recommends building apartment buildings in the vicinity of the proposed secretariat complex at Nowgam for accommodation of bureaucrats and other officers. Apartment accommodation will facilitate vertical and high-density housing, the proposed plan reads.
The draft plan, according to the official, had received around 350 suggestions from the public, following which a committee headed by commissioner secretary Housing was supposed to take a final call on the recommendations to be incorporated in the Master Plan. However, the committee could not take any decision after which another sub-committee headed by the Deputy Commissioner Srinagar was constituted to look into the suggestions and feedback.
Chief town planner Kashmir, Fayaz Ahmad Khan told Greater Kashmir that finalization of Master plan is in its final stage. “Soon the finalized master plan would be presented before cabinet for final approval.”
The draft Master Plan has envisioned increase in the city area from the existing 416 Sq Km to 766 Sq Km, which is an 82 percent increase from the existing Master Plan limits.
The area has been increased from the existing 416 sq kms to 766 sq kms. It includes all municipal areas of Srinagar Municipal Corporation and that of Budgam, Ganderbal, Pampore, Khrew Urban Local Bodies, and 160 villages in 12 tehsils of six Valley districts.