SRINAGAR, SEPTEMBER 25: Minister for School Education, Health & Medical Education, Sakeena Itoo, replying on behalf of the Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah Friday informed the Legislative Assembly that 14 developmental works involving a total project cost of ₹24.62 crore are under execution in Baramulla Town, with several projects completed and others progressing at different stages.
The Minister was replying to a question raised by MLA Javid Hassan Baig.
Sakeena Itoo informed the House that against the total project cost of ₹2,462.67 lakh, an expenditure of ₹445.24 lakh had been incurred up to March 2026. During the current financial year, ₹25 lakh has been utilised against the released amount of ₹130.60 lakh. Of the 14 works, three have been completed, while the remaining works are at various stages of execution.
Regarding the proposed multi-level car parking facility near the R&B Office, Baramulla, the Minister, as per an official statement, informed the House that Administrative Approval for the project was accorded on October 10, 2025.
She said that commencement of the project was delayed as the land, being under the ownership of PWD (R&B), had not yet been transferred in favour of Municipal Council Baramulla.
The proposed site also contains existing poplar trees requiring valuation by the Forest Department followed by their auction/removal, she added. In addition, an old building at the site requires assessment and completion of the prescribed procedure for its disposal/removal, she added.
Sakeena Itoo said that these essential pre-construction and statutory formalities had affected commencement of the project.
“The requisite formalities are now under process, and the concerned agencies have been directed to complete them on priority so that work can commence at the earliest”, she said.
On the construction/development of three entry gates at Baramulla, the Minister informed the House that Administrative Approval was accorded vide Order No. DULBK/Plg/746 of 2025 dated September 20, 2025″,She informed.
She said that execution of the entry gate at Janbazpora and Khowjabagh was affected by objections raised by local residents, necessitating shifting of the sites.
“At Khowjabagh, work is presently under progress at the newly identified site. At Khanpora, objections were raised by BRO authorities, necessitating modification of the approved drawing and change of location. Joint site visits by BRO and R&B authorities were subsequently conducted on June 13 and June 21, 2026, following which revised locations were proposed”, the Minister informed.
The Minister informed the House that work at the new Khanpora site had progressed up to the column level, but was subsequently stopped after BRO authorities conveyed that the location was inadvertent and could not be permitted for continuation.
She said immediate steps have been initiated in coordination with the concerned authorities to identify and finalise suitable alternative locations at Janbazpora and Khanpora, enabling the works to be taken up and completed without further avoidable delay.
Regarding the double-storey office building of Municipal Council Baramulla, Sakeena Itoo informed the House that Administrative Approval was accorded vide No. MC/BLA/2021/215-18 dated December 22, 2021.
“The G+2 skeletal structure of the project was completed in November 2024. Thereafter, execution was interrupted pursuant to orders of the High Court in connection with the land dispute between Municipal Council Baramulla, the adjoining private property holder and on account of security-related restrictions”, she maintained.
“The work remained halted until March 2026. Subsequently, Municipal Council Baramulla submitted an affidavit undertaking compliance with the security conditions prescribed by the Military Authority, following which execution of the work was resumed.”, She added.
The Minister informed the House that truss work has now been completed and brickwork has reached approximately 80 per cent completion. The concerned executing agency has been directed to maintain the pace of execution and complete the balance work at the earliest.
Replying to a supplementary, the Minister stated that the works referred to in the question have not been completed within the originally envisaged time frame.
She, however, informed the House that the delays have been attributed to site-specific, statutory, court-related, security-related and inter-departmental issues, which affected either commencement or continuity of execution and, to a substantial extent, were beyond the immediate control of the executing agency.
Sakeena Itoo assured the House that the concerned agencies are being directed to expedite the pending formalities and maintain the pace of execution so that the developmental works are completed at the earliest for the benefit of the people of Baramulla Town.
