CM Omar Abdullah Reports ₹800+ Crore Investment in Jammu Smart City Development Till Date
The Jammu Smart City project has witnessed an investment of over ₹800 crore in the past six years, according to Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. In a written response to an unstarred question by BJP’s Vikram Randhawa in the Assembly, Abdullah, who also heads the Housing and Urban Development Department, detailed the financial outlay and progress of the project.
As of March 2025, ₹815.37 crore has been utilized for various projects under the Jammu Smart City Mission, including administrative and office expenses. The funds released for the mission amount to ₹830.98 crore, indicating that a significant portion of the allocated budget has been put to use. The expenditure has been distributed over the years as follows: ₹52 crore in 2019-20, ₹75.18 crore in 2020-21, ₹128.05 crore in 2021-22, ₹196.21 crore in 2022-23, ₹225.63 crore in 2023-24, and ₹138.30 crore in 2024-25 till date.
Despite the scale of the project, the Chief Minister confirmed that no major complaints have been reported regarding completed works. However, minor grievances raised by citizens were addressed promptly. One of the key concerns was the installation of Digital Door Number (DDN) plates, a geo-tagging initiative for residential and commercial properties. A total of 400 complaints were registered in this regard, out of which 350 have been resolved.
Additionally, there were 300 complaints related to the e-Bus operations, including ticketing issues and misbehavior by drivers or conductors. Authorities imposed penalties in 285 cases against defaulting personnel and agencies. Sixteen complaints were received on matters such as waterlogging at Panama Chowk, drainage issues in Gandhi Nagar and Bharat Nagar, non-functioning decorative streetlights, installation of poles obstructing shops at Residency Road, and traffic disruptions due to the construction of gates at Indira Chowk and Raghunath Bazar. According to the government, all these issues have been addressed.
The Jammu Smart City project is a crucial initiative aimed at enhancing urban infrastructure, transportation, and civic amenities. With significant financial investments and an active grievance redressal mechanism, the project is making steady progress. As work continues, the focus will likely remain on smoother execution, addressing public concerns, and ensuring efficient urban development to transform Jammu into a modern, well-equipped city.