Deputy Chief Minister, Dr Nirmal Singh today said that the announcement of Smart City status for Srinagar and Jammu will ensure the planned and holistic development of these capital cities so that they are replete with every modern facility of urban living.

The Deputy Chief Minister was interacting with several deputations after the twin capital cities of the state qualified under the Smart City Initiative of the central government. In the first instance an amount of Rs 500 crore each would be provided to Jammu and Srinagar cities and afterwards an amount of Rs 3500 crore would be provided.

Terming the smart city initiative as a game-changer in the development of Jammu and Srinagar cities, the Deputy Chief Minister said that by this initiative sustained development of these twin cities will take place on the modern and scientific basis so that the people living in these cities get the facilities at par with some of the most developed cities of the world.

While thanking the Prime minister, Narendra Modi and the Union Urban Development Minister, Venkaiah Naidu, Dr Singh said that it is due to the accommodative and visionary approach of centre that Jammu and Srinagar cities have also been selected under this initiative. He said that the officers of the state Housing and Urban Development Department also contributed in properly projecting the case of the state before the central government.

Dr Singh later also chaired a review meeting of the officers of the National Highways Authority of India and officers of the R&B department to discuss the status of the various highway projects being undertaken in the Jammu division.

The projects discussed include the Dayalachak-Challan-Udhampur and Lakhanpur–Dunera via Mahanpur-Basohli road.

The Deputy Chief Minister directed the officers to ensure that the work on these Road projects of vital importance is started as early as possible , so that the connectivity of these areas is increased which would in turn give fillip to the economic and related activities.

A deputation of the Jammu Chamber of Industries led by its president, Mr Rakesh Gupta also called on the Dy Chief Minister and discussed several issues related to trade and industries in the state.

Dr Singh assured the deputations that all their issues would be looked into and redressed properly.

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