Jammu and Srinagar cities are among the fastest growing cities in the country bringing both opportunities and challenges for urban planners and policymakers.
Rapid expansion, rising population, increasing traffic and growing demand for housing and infrastructure make planned urban development an urgent necessity. For Jammu and Srinagar, however, urbanisation cannot be treated merely as a question of roads, buildings and commercial spaces. It must also respect the region’s fragile ecology, water bodies, rivers and rich architectural heritage.
The government is focussing on Town Planning Schemes for Srinagar Town, safeguards for Dal, Nigeen and other water bodies, alignment with J&K Unified Building Bye-Laws-2021, and reforms to simplify land-use zoning and building permissions.
Revised Jammu Master Plan-2032 includes 15 planning zones, rationalisation of land-use categories, geo-referenced mapping and aligning major infrastructure projects in the plan document Environmental and heritage safeguards, including protection of the Tawi riverbed and watercourses.
The government’s focus on Town Planning Schemes for Srinagar is a welcome step. Planned development can help prevent the haphazard expansion that has often resulted in congestion, encroachment, inadequate infrastructure and pressure on natural resources. Srinagar’s unique character demands a planning framework that balances modern requirements with the preservation of its historic and environmental identity.
The Revised Jammu Master Plan-2032 represents another important step towards managing the city’s expansion. The division of the city into 15 planning zones, rationalisation of land-use categories and geo-referenced mapping can provide a more scientific basis for future growth. Major infrastructure projects must also be integrated into the master plan rather than being developed in isolation. Roads, public transport, housing, drainage, utilities and commercial areas should grow according to a coordinated vision.
Environmental safeguards must remain at the heart of this planning process. The protection of the Tawi riverbed and natural watercourses is crucial for Jammu, particularly in view of increasing urbanisation and the risks posed by flooding and extreme weather events. Riverbeds and drainage channels cannot be viewed as vacant land available for construction. Once natural watercourses are obstructed, the consequences can be severe for both the environment and human settlements.
Similarly, heritage protection must be integrated into urban planning. Jammu and Srinagar possess architectural traditions and historic landscapes that cannot be recreated once destroyed. Modern buildings and infrastructure should complement, rather than overwhelm, these identities.
Jammu and Srinagar deserve to grow, but growth must not come at the cost of their identity and natural assets. The objective should be to build cities that are modern, accessible, resilient and economically vibrant while remaining environmentally sustainable and culturally rooted. Planned growth today is the best guarantee of liveable cities tomorrow. |
