Srinagar city is among most populated cities in the country having population density of 4223 persons per square kilometer, a report reveals.
The report released by union housing and urban affairs ministry reveald that the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir is witnessing 28.85 percent decadal growth in population.
It states that population density (i.e. persons per square kilometers) in Srinagar is 4223 souls which make it among the top 50 highest populated cities across India.
The report attributes reason to rapid increase in population to “high urban population growth to large scale in-migration to urban areas from rural areas and natural growth of the urban population.”
As per the census 2011, the total urban population increased from 286.11 million to 377.10 million showing an increase of 31.8 %, during the period 2001-2011 in India.
As per the 2011 evaluation, Srinagar urban agglomeration had a population of 1,273,312 souls.
Taking a look at the population of Srinagar from the year 2012-16, it has been noticed that there has been an increase of 0.23 million in the past 5 years. Therefore, it has been seen that every year the population increases by 0.046 million. Hence, the population of Srinagar in 2017 is forecast to be 1.576 million, it adds.
According to the report, urban development is a state subject and the state governments in their efforts to decongest over-populated urban areas prepare the metropolitan region plans.
However, Jammu and Kashmir government has failed to prepare metropolitan region plan commonly known as Srinagar Master Plan despite passing of three years since the exercise to draft it was initiated.
As the Srinagar Master Plan-2035 has been marred by controversies and political interference since last year, the governor led administration has finally now fixed a deadline of 30 days for Housing department to finalize the plan document for Srinagar.
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 sqkms. 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.