CM Omar Abdullah Launches ₹190 Crore Urban Transformation and River Conservation Drive in Srinagar and Budgam

SRINAGAR, February 25, 2026 — Chief Minister Omar Abdullah initiated a major urban and environmental overhaul today by laying the foundation stones for several key projects worth over ₹190 crore across the Srinagar and Budgam districts.

These initiatives, spanning five constituencies, are designed to strengthen drainage systems, enhance climate-resilient infrastructure, and prioritize the ecological restoration of the Jhelum and Doodh Ganga rivers.

Highlighting the spiritual and cultural identity of the region, the Chief Minister began by laying the foundation for “BAB-UL-SULTAN-UL-ARIFEEN,” an artistic city gateway at Rainawari Chowk, estimated to cost ₹130 lakh.

Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister noted that while such large-scale projects usually draw massive crowds, the ceremony was kept modest to avoid inconveniencing the public during the holy month of Ramzan.

A significant portion of the funding is dedicated to environmental sustainability and pollution abatement. A major project at Brari-Nambal Munawarabad, costing ₹7,090.68 lakh, will establish an 8 MLD Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) to conserve the Jhelum River.

Additionally, two critical STPs were launched to curb pollution in the Doodh Ganga: a 14 MLD facility at Aloochi-Bagh (₹5,060.47 lakh) and a 6 MLD facility at Mochua, Budgam (₹6,772.32 lakh).

Chief Minister Abdullah emphasized that these projects are vital to combat the city’s frequent waterlogging and erratic rainfall patterns caused by climate change. He expressed a vision to restore Srinagar’s historical reputation as the “Venice of the East” by improving water quality and reviving neglected canals and lakes.

To further modernise the region, the government also plans to develop planned housing colonies in peripheral areas to decongest the inner city, promising a transformed Srinagar with high-standard infrastructure within the next few years.