J&K’s first-ever digital Land Bank

The launch of Jammu and Kashmir’s first integrated digital Land Bank layer on the PM Gati Shakti portal marks a thoughtful, forward-looking step toward strengthening the Union Territory’s development and planning processes. For a region where scattered records and procedural hurdles have often slowed land identification, the creation of a single, verified, and geotagged digital inventory offers welcome clarity. It represents a shift toward a more organized and transparent governance approach, one that supports timely infrastructure creation and aligns J&K more closely with national planning frameworks.

What makes this initiative noteworthy is the depth of effort invested before going digital. Land parcels notified as State Land were jointly surveyed by the Forest and Revenue Departments, then carefully verified through ground-truthing to ensure they were free of legal complications or physical encumbrances. Only after this detailed scrutiny were the parcels added to the digital Land Bank. In a region with complex land histories, this level of diligence will help reduce disputes and improve confidence in administrative decisions. The numbers themselves reflect the scale of this collaborative exercise. From an initial assessment of 668 parcels, 462 parcels spread over more than 2400 hectares were confirmed suitable for inclusion. Providing the district-wise breakup, officials stated that the parcels uploaded include 10 from Anantnag totaling 12.43 hectares, Baramulla 7 parcels measuring 74.44 hectares, Budgam 15 parcels (28.99 ha), Doda 44 parcels (332.52 ha), Ganderbal 26 parcels (30.45 ha), Jammu 3 parcels (4.55 ha), Kathua 154 parcels (750.47 ha), Kishtwar 45 parcels (513.90 ha), Kulgam 10 parcels (17.44 ha), Kupwara 15 parcels (74.24 ha), Poonch 60 parcels (135.35 ha), Pulwama 1 parcel (4.10 ha), Rajouri 12 parcels (55 ha), Ramban 16 parcels (56 ha), Reasi 20 parcels (150 ha), Samba 5 parcels (12.85 ha), Shopian 1 parcel (2.02 ha), and Udhampur 18 parcels covering 152.08 hectares. Bringing all of these under one central digital layer marks a welcome shift away from scattered manual records and will enable planners to work with far greater accuracy and speed. The initiative also highlights improved synergy between departments. The Forest Department’s remote sensing wing managed the digitization process, while revenue officials ensured that the land records were legally sound. District officers provided on-ground verification, ensuring that the data reflects actual conditions. Such coordination not only ensured accuracy but also set a healthy precedent for future multi-departmental initiatives related to land, natural resources, or public infrastructure. This digital land bank has the potential to enhance decision-making on several fronts. It offers administrators precise, easily accessible data, helping them plan new projects with confidence. It strengthens coordination between departments responsible for roads, health, education, industry, and other sectors. It also acts as a safeguard, since geo-tagged parcels can be monitored regularly to prevent encroachment or misuse. The plan for routine remote-sensing checks will help maintain the integrity of the land bank and keep it up-to-date. Moving from paper-based records to a digital system is more than a technological change; it reflects a broader effort to make governance more efficient and predictable. For a region keen to accelerate economic growth and improve public infrastructure, faster and more reliable land identification is essential. With this new system in place, many upcoming projects are likely to move ahead with fewer delays and stronger administrative backing. The responsibility now lies in ensuring that the system is used consistently, updated periodically, and backed by strong on-the-ground enforcement. Departments will need to integrate this tool into their workflows, district administrations must remain vigilant in protecting mapped parcels and officers must continue receiving support and training to use the platform effectively.

The introduction of the digital Land Bank represents a positive step toward modernizing land governance in Jammu and Kashmir. By making verified land information available on a single platform, the initiative strengthens transparency, improves coordination, and supports the kind of timely, data-driven planning that citizens increasingly expect. It carries the promise of contributing meaningfully to a more streamlined and development-ready future for the Union Territory.