Business leaders (CCI), Jammu have highlighted the urgent need for a comprehensive overhaul of Jammu’s Master Plan to address significant challenges impacting the city’s economic and urban development. The existing Master Plan conceived several decades ago, is no longer sufficient to meet the growing demands of a rapidly expanding population. As land becomes increasingly scarce and expensive, the city’s low Floor Area Ratio (FAR) of 1.8—among the lowest in the country—exacerbates the problem. FAR regulations, which dictate the density of construction on a plot, are outdated and restrictive. Industry leaders advocate for increasing the FAR limit and introducing provisions for purchasing additional FAR to alleviate land scarcity and optimize land use.
For years, Jammu has witnessed a proliferation of unapproved and unauthorized colonies due to the government’s failure to establish sufficient new residential areas. This unregulated expansion has led to a chaotic urban landscape where essential services and infrastructure are lagging. Furthermore, there is an inconsistency in the approval process for housing plots. While unauthorized colonies receive approvals, government-approved plots, such as those by the housing board, face delays and inconsistencies. To address these issues, industry leaders call for the development of new residential areas and a streamlined approval process to ensure fair and efficient development. Lease renewal policies are also a major concern. Business owners and allottees in areas such as Sabzi Mandi and Narwal are experiencing delays in renewing their lease deeds, creating uncertainty and disrupting their operations. This issue is compounded in commercial areas like Bahu Plaza and Shiv Market Railway Station, where lease agreements remain unresolved despite payments of prescribed fees. These delays undermine business stability and investment in the region. Industry leaders urge the government to expedite the renewal of lease deeds and address these long-standing issues to create a secure business environment. Infrastructure development has also been sluggish and inadequate. Critical projects such as the Tawi Riverfront project, intended to beautify the city and enhance recreational spaces, and the Mubarak Mandi Heritage Complex restoration, are progressing at a frustratingly slow pace. These delays hinder their potential to stimulate tourism and economic activity. Similarly, the development of Transport Nagar Narwal, a key commercial hub, has been slow, affecting business operations. There is a need to accelerate these projects and ensure their timely completion to support Jammu’s growth. Tourism development presents another area of untapped potential. Unlike the Kashmir Valley, which boasts established tourist destinations like Gulmarg and Pahalgam, Jammu’s potential tourist sites—such as Patnitop, Sanasar, Surinsar, and religious locations like Shiv Khori and Sudh Mahadev—remain underdeveloped. Industry leaders advocate for modernizing these sites with improved infrastructure and commercial activities to attract more tourists and boost the local economy. Competitive challenges faced by local flour millers also highlight the need for policy intervention. Jammu and Kashmir does not produce enough wheat to meet local demand, necessitating the import of wheat from neighbouring states. However, these states impose a 6% tax on wheat supplied to Jammu, a tax that does not apply to their own millers. This discrepancy makes local wheat products more expensive, disadvantaging local millers. Industry leaders call for government intervention to negotiate with neighbouring states to remove this tax or provide compensatory incentives to local millers to level the playing field. In addition to these issues, industry leaders stress the importance of addressing industrial policy and incentives. The government’s focus on promoting new industries in Jammu and Kashmir should not undermine existing businesses. Turnover incentives for industries from the years 2021-22 and 2022-23 have yet to be released, causing financial strain. There is also a call for the removal of the negative list for industrial products, which restricts certain manufactured goods. Ensuring that local industries receive timely support and incentives is crucial for maintaining competitiveness and fostering economic growth. Another proposal is to grant ownership rights for long-term leaseholders of industrial land. Entrepreneurs who have leased industrial land for over 25 years seek ownership rights to secure long-term stability and encourage further investment. Similarly, existing warehouse traders should be granted ownership rights to land they have occupied for decades.
Industry leaders have made it clear that without swift and comprehensive reforms, Jammu will continue to struggle with these challenges, preventing it from realizing its full potential. The government must prioritize addressing these concerns, ensuring that Jammu’s growth is sustainable, inclusive, and reflective of the region’s true potential. By doing so, Jammu can emerge as a thriving economic and cultural hub in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.