Jammu, Jan 15: In an effort to address the growing housing needs of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, the Chief Secretary on Wednesday chaired a high-level meeting to review the progress and future roadmap of housing colonies being developed by the Jammu and Kashmir Housing Board (JKHB), Jammu Development Authority (JDA) and Srinagar Development Authority (SDA).
The meeting focused on ongoing, proposed and planned housing projects, with emphasis on affordability, sustainable development and timely execution through innovative models such as Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) and Self-Financing Schemes (SFS) in both the Jammu and Kashmir divisions.
The review meeting was attended by the Commissioner Secretary, Housing and Urban Development Department (H&UDD), Vice Chairpersons of JDA and SDA, Managing Director of the J&K Housing Board, Chief Executive Officer of the Centre for Innovation and Transformation in Governance (CiTAG), and other senior officers.
The Chief Secretary observed that rapid urbanisation, shrinking availability of land and steadily rising land prices have made housing increasingly unaffordable for large sections of the population. He stressed the need for proactive government intervention through planned housing colonies to ensure that home ownership remains within reach of middle- and lower-income groups.
Highlighting the importance of public housing projects, he said that structured and high-density housing developed by government agencies helps optimise land use and reduce per-unit costs, making housing more accessible to a wider section of society. He also underlined that affordable housing requires a coordinated, multi-agency approach supported by PPP frameworks, self-financing schemes and vertical development, while ensuring quality construction and long-term sustainability.
Commissioner Secretary, H&UDD, Mandeep Kaur said that secure and affordable housing is central to social stability and economic well-being. She noted that government-led housing colonies help prevent urban sprawl, reduce pressure on infrastructure and ensure equitable access to basic services. She outlined the department’s past efforts, ongoing projects and future plans to develop housing projects across districts under PPP and self-financing modes.
Managing Director, J&K Housing Board, Shahbaz Ahmed Mirza informed the meeting that multiple housing colonies are being developed across Jammu and Kashmir to cater to different income groups. He said land parcels have been identified under the PPP model at Birpur in Samba, Padgampora in Pulwama, Watapora in Bandipora, Chowadi in Jammu, Changran in Kathua and Chatterhama in Srinagar, with market and demand assessments underway.
He added that housing colonies at Chak Bhalwal and Bhalwal in Jammu, and Bakoora in Ganderbal, have been approved under the Self-Financing Scheme. These projects will include residential units along with commercial spaces, parking and other modern amenities.
Vice Chairman, JDA, Rupesh Kumar said that significant progress has been achieved on JDA Heights Phase-II at Lower Roop Nagar, comprising 144 residential flats, with structural work completed and overall progress at around 75 per cent. He also highlighted initiatives such as the Transport Nagar, Narwal improvement project, which includes residential apartments, parking facilities, elevators and community amenities. He further said that several long-pending legacy issues have been resolved during the current financial year, unlocking valuable land assets.
Vice Chairman, SDA, Mohammad Rafi briefed the meeting on Shehjar Heights Phase-II at Bemina, where 112 additional flats are under construction and are expected to be completed by 2027–28. He also highlighted the Satellite Township project at Rakhi Gund Aksha, Bemina, spread over nearly 2,950 kanals. Launched in December 2022, the project has received strong public response, with NBCC engaged as the project executing agency.
A key focus of the review was the development of sustainable, net-zero housing colonies in line with India’s commitments under COP-26. The adoption of PPP models aims to reduce government exposure while developing townships that integrate energy efficiency, transit-oriented development norms and climate-resilient infrastructure.
CEO, CiTAG, said the centre is facilitating PPP-based housing and commercial projects by conducting site visits, preparing detailed project reports and finalising expressions of interest to attract national-level developers. He added that land parcels across the Union Territory are being structured to ensure financial viability and inclusive development, including mandatory housing for economically weaker sections.
The Chief Secretary directed all concerned agencies to ensure time-bound execution, quality construction and affordability, stressing that housing remains a key pillar of urban development and social well-being in Jammu and Kashmir.
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