SRINAGAR: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday presided over a high-level review meeting at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC) to evaluate the development status of Srinagar district and gather direct feedback on public concerns from elected representatives.
The session included a detailed examination of sector-wise and Assembly Constituency-wise implementation of flagship government schemes, as well as key development projects being executed under different budgetary allocations.
Present at the meeting were Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Chowdhury, Ministers Javaid Ahmad Rana, Javaid Dar and Satish Sharma, Advisor to the Chief Minister Nasir Aslam Wani, Chairperson of the District Development Council Srinagar Malik Aftab, along with Members of the Legislative Assembly from Srinagar district.
MLAs including Ali Mohammad Sagar, Mubarak Gul, Shameem Firdous, Salman Sagar, Tanvir Sadiq, Ahsan Ahmad Pardesi and Mushtaq Ahmad Guru raised constituency-specific development issues and highlighted gaps in civic amenities.
Senior officials present included Additional Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister Dheeraj Gupta, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Anshul Garg, Deputy Commissioner Srinagar Akshay Labroo, Commissioner Srinagar Municipal Corporation Faz Lul Haseeb, Director FCS&CA Dr Owais Ahmad, along with heads of departments and senior district and sectoral officers.
The Chief Minister assured the elected representatives that the issues raised would be addressed promptly, reaffirming the government’s commitment to efficient, transparent, and people-focused governance.
Omar Abdullah emphasized the urgent need to resolve the environmental and public health challenges at the Achan dumping site. He instructed the concerned departments to adopt scientific, environmentally sustainable waste management practices and stressed the importance of achieving a permanent solution in a time-bound manner.
On the traffic situation in Srinagar, the Chief Minister called for long-term, integrated measures to reduce congestion. He directed officers to remove major bottlenecks, improve road alignment where land has already been acquired for widening projects, and strengthen coordination among implementing agencies to ensure smooth traffic flow.
Addressing the growing issue of stray dogs, Omar Abdullah stressed a humane, scientific, and legally compliant approach. He called for close collaboration between municipal authorities and other stakeholders to effectively manage the situation.
The Chief Minister also highlighted the importance of involving elected representatives in the planning and execution of development initiatives, stating that their participation is vital to ensure grassroots feedback, transparency, and effective implementation of public welfare programs.
He instructed all departments to maintain close inter-departmental coordination, adhere to prescribed timelines, and ensure that development projects result in tangible benefits for the residents of Srinagar.
During the review, Omar Abdullah assessed the performance of departments in implementing flagship schemes and executing key projects under District CAPEX and CDF allocations. He stressed the need to expedite project completion, ensure timely fund utilization, and maintain regular coordination with MLAs for visible outcomes on the ground.
Earlier, Deputy Commissioner Srinagar Akshay Labroo provided a detailed briefing on the district’s development initiatives, ongoing projects, and implementation of public-centric government schemes. The Commissioner, Srinagar Municipal Corporation, also shared updates on key civic initiatives.
The Chief Minister was further apprised of winter preparedness measures implemented by the district administration and Srinagar Municipal Corporation to ensure uninterrupted essential services and public convenience during snowfall and other weather-related challenges.
