Baramulla, Oct 10: Eleven of the 14 development projects taken up in Baramulla town under the Capex Budget remain incomplete, with land-transfer issues, local opposition, security constraints, and a court-related dispute delaying key infrastructure work, the Jammu and Kashmir government has informed the Legislative Assembly.
In a written reply to a starred question raised by MLA Javid Hassan Baig during the recently concluded Assembly session, the Housing and Urban Development Department said the 14 projects, with a combined estimated cost of Rs 24.62 crore, were at different stages of implementation. Only three projects have been completed so far.
The department reported cumulative expenditure of Rs 4.45 crore on the projects up to March 2026. During the current financial year, the department spent Rs 25 lakh of the Rs 1.30 crore released for the works.
Among the key projects facing delays is the proposed multi-level car parking facility near the Roads and Buildings (R&B) office. Although the project received administrative approval on October 10, 2025, work has not started because the land owned by the Public Works Department (PWD) is yet to be transferred to the Municipal Council Baramulla.
The site also requires the valuation and removal of poplar trees and the disposal of an existing old building before construction can begin.
The three proposed gateway structures have also encountered implementation hurdles since receiving approval in September 2025.
Work at Janbazpora and Khowjabagh was held up following objections from local residents, while the proposed gateway at Khanpora faced opposition from the Border Roads Organisation (BRO).
The government said alternative sites were being identified for the affected locations, while work at Khowjabagh was progressing at a new site.
Meanwhile, construction of the Municipal Council Baramulla’s double-storey office building, approved in December 2021, was halted until March 2026 due to a court-related land dispute and security restrictions.
Work resumed after the council submitted an affidavit undertaking compliance with military security conditions, the government said.
The structural framework of the building was completed in November 2024. Truss work has since been completed, while brickwork has reached around 80 per cent, according to the department.
The government attributed the delays to site-specific, statutory, judicial, security-related and inter-departmental issues, stating that these were largely beyond the immediate control of the executing agencies.
