Diplomat Correspondent
SRINAGAR, DD, Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo today visited the Zewan site, one of the major locations identified for the construction of transit accommodation under the Prime Minister’s Development Package (PMDP), to take first hand assessment of the ongoing works of flats for Kashmiri Migrant employees.
On this occasion besides the Principal Secretary, PWD and Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir he was accompanied by DC, Srinagar;Relief Commissioner; Chief Engineer, R&B (Central) and other concerned officers.
During the visit, the Chief Secretary reviewed in detail the progress made on the construction of 936 one-BHK flats taken up at Zewan. Out of these, 624 flats have already been constructed while another 312 are at different stages of execution. So far, 703 flats have been allotted, marking an increase of 51 allotments since March 2025.
The Chief Secretary also assessed timelines for further completion and was informed that 96 more flats are targeted for completion up to September 2025, followed by 72 flats between October–December 2025, and 144 flats from January–March 2026.
Reviewing the financial progress, it was informed that the revised approved cost of the Zewan project stands at Rs197.37 Cr, out of which Rs124.07 Cr had been utilized up to March 2025. The balance cost of Rs73.30 Cr has been proposed as outlay for 2025–26, with Rs36.65 Cr already released during the current financial year.
Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Secretary emphasized the need to complete the project within the set timelines and ensure early handover of completed flats. “This project must be completed on time and the completed units should be allotted to the employees without any delay,” he stressed.
Highlighting the locational advantage of the Zewan site, Dulloo added that the transit accommodations here are ideally suited for employees serving both in Srinagar and Pulwama districts. “This site is feasible for migrant employees posted in Srinagar as well as Pulwama, and it is therefore imperative that the flats are made ready for occupation at the earliest,” he observed.
He directed the concerned executing agencies to maintain high standards of quality in construction and adhere strictly to timelines so that the objective of providing secure and dignified housing to migrant employees working in the Valley is fully realized.
The Chief Secretary is regularly monitoring the progress of all transit accommodations being raised across different districts of the Valley. These projects have witnessed tremendous progress in the last few years and are set to be completed as per the given deadlines.
It Is noteworthy to mention here that at the UT level under the PMDP, a total of 6000 transit accommodations are being constructed for Kashmiri Migrant employees with a revised approved outlay of Rs 1245.38 Cr. With additional commitment from the UT Government, the total availability for the project stands at Rs 1325.85 Cr, including Rs983.28 Cr for construction of flats and Rs 342.57 Cr for allied works.DD
