CS reviews status of Srinagar’s Master Plan revision

Chief Secretary, Iqbal Khandey Tuesday reviewed the status of Master Plan for Srinagar which is under revision by the Srinagar Development Authority (SDA).

The Chief Secretary instructed SDA to complete the draft of revised Master Plan within set deadline and submit the same to the Administrative Department for cabinet approval.

The Chief Secretary also asked for expediting the process of finalization of Revised Master Plans for tourist destinations including Gulmarg and Pahalgam and to submit the same to the administrative department within two weeks. The meeting was attended by Commissioner Secretary H&UD, Bipul Pathak, Vice Chairman SDA, VC LAWDA, Commissioner SMC, Chief Architect, J&K, Chief Town Planner Kashmir.

Pertinently, the SDA earlier this year decided to comprehensively recast the Master Plan for Greater Srinagar in light of the “glaring discrepancies” in the draft land use plan. Officials said the redoing of the Master Plan (2012-2032) has also become imperative in the aftermath of the September floods and the proposed Smart City project for Srinagar.

According to sources, during a meeting convened by Secretary to the government, Housing & Urban Development Department (H&UDD), on October 30, 2014, to review the progress of the draft Master Plan (2012-2032), several discrepancies and deficiencies were pinpointed by the official stakeholders in the existing and proposed land use plan.

The meeting has taken serious view of the fact that there were several discrepancies in the land use plan involving the Central Business District (CBD) – Lal Chowk- and there was no updation of maps and reports by the consulting firm. In view of the “glaring deficiencies” in the draft Master Plan, it was accordingly decided in the meeting that the matter be referred to the government for “appropriate action.” As a follow-up, VC SDA vide his elaborate communication no: SDA/VC/PS/50 dated: 30-12-2014, informed the government about the “performance failure” of the consulting firm entrusted with the job of revising the Srinagar Master Plan (2001-2020).