City continues to expand, statutory blueprint stagnates
Inputs pending from Revenue, Forest Deptts: CM
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Feb 13: Despite rapid pace of urbanization, swelling population pressures and expanding economic activities, the long-awaited revision of the Jammu Master Plan-2032 continues to remain stuck in the official files with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who is also Minister Incharge Housing and Urban Development Department, admitting that the crucial document is still “under consideration” even several years after the exercise was initiated.
The prolonged delay has triggered serious concerns over the Government’s planning priorities as unregulated growth continues to reshape large parts of Jammu and adjoining areas without an updated statutory blueprint.
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Keeping in view the rapid pace of urbanization and development of economic activities, approval for revision of Jammu Master Plan 2032 was accorded on October 18, 2021 in accordance with Section 3 of the J&K Development Act, 1970.
Accordingly, the Terms of Reference were signed between Jammu Development Authority and Town Planning Organization and Urban Planner/ GIS experts were engaged and base maps were prepared using satellite imagery along with existing land-use surveys.
Thereafter, traffic and transport survey and socio-economic survey were conducted through the All India Institute of Local Self Government. Even detailed sectoral analysis and technical reports were prepared. Following this, planning boundary was rectified and local planning area increased from 652.33 Sq. Km to 777.84 Sq. Km, covering 350 revenue villages.
The revised draft Master Plan was placed in public domain for 80 days from October 14, 2024 to January 3, 2025. A total of 143 objections and suggestions were received. Thereafter, a Board of Inquiry was constituted vide Government Order No. 07-HUDD of 2025 dated 16-01-2025 and public hearings were conducted on 23.01.2025.
However, despite all this, the Jammu Master Plan 2032 revision exercise has not reached the logical conclusion till date and this was admitted by the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in a written reply to a question in the Legislative Assembly today.
He was asked to reveal the present status of revision of the Jammu Master Plan-2032 indicating the stages completed together with the reasons for any delay in its final approval and issuance of formal notification. “The revision of Jammu Master Plan-2032 is under consideration by the Government”, the Chief Minister said.
“The rectification of incorrect land-use zoning and boundary alignment with revenue villages, incorporation of sustainable public objections and suggestions and time taken in obtaining and verifying data from multiple departments, including pending inputs from the Revenue and Forest Departments are the reasons for delay in final approval”, Omar Abdullah pointed out.
The revision exercise was initiated citing unprecedented urban sprawl, growing industrial and commercial activity and the fast expansion of the Jammu Urban agglomeration into surrounding villages.
The draft revised Master Plan proposes to expand the planning area dramatically bringing under its ambit the entire Municipal Corporation area, several Municipal Committees and over 350 revenue villages. Many of these rural settlements have already been engulfed by urban sprawl and are projected to transform into urban extensions over the next two to three decades.
“There is a dire need to integrate the infrastructure development, including improved transportation networks, sanitation, water supply, health and educational facilities and new economic zones to boost employment”, officials of the Housing and Urban Development Department said, adding “in the absence of a finalized statutory framework the growth is largely proceeding without a unified regulatory mechanism raising the specter of haphazard development, strain on civic amenities and ecological degradation”.
They informed that draft revised Master Plan identifies industrial growth as a key pillar for diversifying the region’s economic base, with plans for new industrial areas and special investment zones.
“Commercial land use has been proposed to cover over 44 square kilometers while industrial zones would occupy more than 14 square kilometers of the net area. These initiatives could create significant employment opportunities and attract investment”, they added.
The continued absence of final notification despite the completion of statutory stages has drawn criticism from civic groups and policy experts, who say the Government’s inability to move beyond procedural exercises reflects a worrying disconnect between policy formulation and implementation.
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