Ganderbal, Nov 18 (KNO): Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Tuesday inaugurated and laid foundation stone of a number of vital infrastructure projects aimed at enhancing civic amenities and accelerating development across District Ganderbal.
He inaugurated the upgradation and widening of the Dak Bungalow Fatehpora–Gadoora road worth ₹5.2 crore and the upgradation of various link roads in Sherpathri Block costing ₹8.9 crore. He also e-inaugurated several major water supply projects, including a 70,000-gallon capacity slow sand filtration plant with allied structures at WSS Gagangeer completed at a cost of ₹119.16 lakh; a 30,000-gallon capacity slow sand filtration plant with reservoirs and treatment units at WSS Fraw Haknar completed with an investment of ₹108.09 lakh; and a 60,000-gallon capacity slow sand filtration plant at WSS Rezan along with its pipe network and related infrastructure completed at a cost of ₹121.20 lakh.
The Chief Minister later laid foundation stone for multiple upcoming projects. These include a 4 MGD common pre-settling tank along with the revamping of the water treatment plant in Ganderbal Town with an estimated outlay of ₹384 lakh; the construction of a 33/11 KV, 1x6.3 MVA receiving station at Wangath, Kangan costing ₹417 lakh; the upgradation of the road connecting Spring Naga Mohallah Shallar to Dab at Batpora, Lar with a budget of ₹181.06 lakh; the establishment of a Model Floriculture Centre at Nunnar (FPO Park) costing ₹172 lakh; and the upgradation of earthen ponds at NFSF Manasbal with a total investment of ₹308.12 lakh.
The Chief Minister was accompanied by Minister for Health & Medical Education, Higher Education, School Education Sakina Itoo, Minister for Jal Shakti Javed Ahmed Rana, Minister for Agriculture Javid Ahmed Dar, Minister for Transport Satish Sharma, Advisor to the Chief Minister Nasir Aslam Wani, MLA Kangan Mian Mehar Ali, Additional Chief Secretary to the CM Dheeraj Gupta, Deputy Commissioner and SSP Ganderbal, heads of departments, district officers and other concerned officials.
These projects are being executed by Jal Shakti RWS Division Ganderbal, KPDCL Ganderbal and Public Works (R&B) Department, reflecting the government’s commitment to strengthening infrastructure and public welfare.
Later, the Chief Minister chaired a comprehensive district review meeting and DC Ganderbal presented a detailed overview of progress across various sectors. CM gave instructions to ensure adequate awareness among farmers about Fasal Bima Yojana and other government schemes. CM exhorted that dropout rate at primary school level should be brought to nil and that teachers be deployed in such cases to understand the problem. He also asked for an assessment of whether the introduction of smart classrooms has led to qualitative improvement in the education being imparted in schools. He instructed the health authorities to immediately complete registration of the already procured ambulance through the hospital development fund and make it operational without delay. Similarly, he directed the concerned Health and R&B Electric wing to ensure early operationalization of the procured CT Scan machine by completing the pending civil and electrical works.
He also emphasized the urgency of addressing traffic congestion in Ganderbal and directed the Deputy Commissioner to prepare an ideal long-term solution in consultation with the R&B Department. He further stressed expediting utilization of funds, avoiding lapses and cutting down non-essential expenditure. Regarding the SASCI scheme, he directed the Deputy Commissioner to conduct fortnightly reviews to ensure that 80 percent expenditure by end of December is achieved, which is mandatory to secure the next instalment.
The Chief Minister instructed the concerned departments to make all necessary efforts to develop Sonamarg as another major winter tourism destination in Kashmir, saying that this year would serve as a learning experience as winter tourism expands beyond Gulmarg and Pahalgam. He also directed CEO Sonamarg Development Authority to check and stop any illegal construction in the eco-fragile zone of Sonamarg.
Responding to local demand for water tankers in the district, he sanctioned two tankers from his CDF for Ganderbal.
MLA Mian Meher Ali raised several issues such as the establishment of a degree college at Gund, road connectivity improvements, drinking water coverage upgradation of schools and other public concerns. The Chief Minister asked the concerned ministers to resolve these issues in a timely manner.
Earlier, Deputy Commissioner Ganderbal Jatin Kishore delivered a detailed presentation on recent developments and ongoing projects in the district as of November 2025. The presentation highlighted progress in urban planning, road, water and power infrastructure, agriculture, horticulture, animal husbandry, education, social welfare and winter tourism development. It emphasized the modernization of Ganderbal town, the implementation of a ₹24.10 crore municipal work plan, significant upgrades in public amenities, expansion of health and educational institutions, improvements in the power and road sectors, and agriculture schemes benefiting thousands of farmers. The DC also gave details of steps being taken to enhance winter sports infrastructure and informed that Sonamarg would now function as a year-round destination. He further outlined progress under social security schemes, employment initiatives, industrial development and preparedness for winter operations and emergencies.
During the visit, the Chief Minister inspected a series of stalls showcasing departmental achievements and beneficiary schemes. These included the PM Suryaghar Muft Bijli Yojana stall of Electric Subdivision Tulamulla (KPDCL), PM Awas Yojana by MC Ganderbal, J&K KVIB, and stalls by the Horticulture, Agriculture and Animal Husbandry departments. He also viewed displays by Safawi Foods under the PMFME scheme, innovations presented by students under Atal Tinkering Labs, awareness stalls by Mission Vatsalya and Mission Shakti, a Bio-Floc demonstration by the Fisheries Department, capacity-building initiatives under Mission YUVA, local sozni and crewel art by NRLM-UMEED, and an exhibition by the J&K Building & Other Construction Workers Welfare Board.
The Chief Minister also distributed welfare benefits including ten individual cheques and one grand cheque under BOCW welfare schemes amounting to ₹3,62,72,562 benefiting a total of 5,424 workers and beneficiaries. He handed over sanction letters to two beneficiaries under Mission YUVA and presented two scooties under the Social Welfare Department. He also issued an approval letter sanctioning ₹6 lakh as grant-in-aid assistance to a Self-Help Group under HADP. Under PMAY-I, he handed over a cheque of ₹2,20,326 to one beneficiary and issued a sanction letter to another under PMAY-U 2.0. He also distributed orders for the regularization of CPW/LFW workers as MTS in favour of 14 beneficiaries.
Later in the day, the Chief Minister visited District Hospital Ganderbal where he inaugurated a high-end USG machine procured under CDF and dedicated it to the public. The machine will become operational from Monday. Several issues concerning the hospital, including the establishment of a CATH lab, deployment of a cardiologist and the need for a PG Hostel facility, were raised during the visit. The Chief Minister directed the Deputy Commissioner to incorporate the PG Hostel project under the CAPEX Plan. He also carried out a plantation drive within the hospital premises—(KNO)