Amid persistent criticism over delays and cost escalations in Smart City projects in Jammu and Srinagar, the Centre today informed Parliament that 98 per cent of the projects taken up under the Smart Cities Mission in Jammu and Kashmir have been completed, while ruling out any inquiry into allegations of financial irregularities or project mismanagement.
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Replying to an Unstarred Question in the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs Tokhan Sahu said that 288 projects worth Rs 6,603 crore were sanctioned under the Smart Cities Mission for Jammu and Srinagar. Of these, 282 projects worth rs 6,472 crore have been completed as of March 31, 2026, leaving only six projects under implementation.
The Government stated that Jammu has completed 125 of its 127 projects, accounting for works worth Rs 2,940 crore against a sanctioned cost of Rs 2,969 crore. Srinagar, meanwhile, has completed 157 of its 161 projects, covering works worth Rs 3,532 crore out of the sanctioned Rs 3,634 crore. Both cities have achieved an overall completion rate of 98 per cent.
The Ministry said the Centre has released Rs 941 crore as central financial assistance for the two Smart Cities, of which Rs 911 crore has been utilized. Jammu has utilized Rs 459 crore out of Rs 489 crore claimed, while Srinagar has utilized the entire Rs 452 crore claimed from the Centre.
Responding to concerns over delays and cost escalations, the Ministry attributed the slowdown in some projects to procedural and logistical challenges, including delays in obtaining departmental clearances, land acquisition issues, construction in hilly terrain, shortage of vendors and resources, and other implementation-related constraints.
The Government also made it clear that no inquiry, audit or investigation has been initiated into allegations of financial irregularities, poor quality of work, diversion of funds or lapses in project management. It said implementation of the mission is being handled by the respective Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs), which are responsible for planning, execution, monitoring, fund management and evaluation of projects.
According to the status report placed before Parliament, the six ongoing projects include two in Jammu-the Oceanarium at Bagh-e-Bahu and rejuvenation of ponds and water bodies-and four in Srinagar, comprising water transport services on the Jhelum and Dal Lake, a SCADA-based water management system, balance works at Goni Khan and Maharaj Bazaar, and the SSCL office with an Integrated Command and Control Centre sub-hub.
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Autor(en)/Author(s): Govind Sharma
Dieser Artikel ist neu veröffentlicht von / This article is republished from: Daily Excelsior, 04.08.2026
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