J&K CM Omar Abdullah opens ₹9.18 crore Residency Road High Street in Jammu
Synopsis
With the inauguration of Residency Road High Street, Jammu's Smart City Mission has now delivered 125 of 127 sanctioned projects worth ₹2,940 crore — a 98 per cent completion rate that makes it one of the most advanced implementations under India's national urban renewal programme. Only two projects remain.
Key Takeaways
J&K CM Omar Abdullah inaugurated the upgraded Residency Road High Street in Jammu on 7 August .
The project was developed at a cost of ₹9.18 crore under the Smart City Mission .
Jammu has now completed 125 of 127 sanctioned Smart City projects worth ₹2,940 crore — nearly 98 per cent of planned works.
Recent inaugurations include the Heritage Trail and Bahu Fort Food Street ; only pond rejuvenation and ecological works remain.
The Srinagar Smart City Mission has completed 157 of 161 projects worth ₹3,634 crore .
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday, 7 August inaugurated the upgraded Residency Road High Street in Jammu city, a project developed at a cost of ₹9.18 crore under the Smart City Mission. The inauguration marks another milestone in Jammu's sweeping urban transformation under the centrally-funded initiative.
What the Project Delivers
The upgraded Residency Road High Street is designed to modernise urban infrastructure while improving public convenience for both residents and visitors in Jammu. The corridor joins a growing list of civic upgrades — including the Heritage Trail and the Bahu Fort Food Street — that have reshaped key public spaces across the city.
MLA Yudhvir Sethi and senior officers of the Housing and Urban Development Department were present at the inauguration ceremony.
Jammu Smart City Mission: Near-Complete
The Residency Road project brings the Jammu Smart City Mission to 125 completed projects out of 127 sanctioned works, representing a total outlay of ₹2,940 crore. This translates to nearly 98 per cent of all planned infrastructure and public convenience works in the city having been delivered.
Only two projects remain — localised pond rejuvenation and certain ecological works — both in their final execution phase. Notably, the pace of completion positions Jammu as one of the more advanced Smart City Mission implementations in the country.
Srinagar Smart City on a Parallel Track
The Srinagar Smart City Mission, implemented by Srinagar Smart City Limited, has similarly progressed, with 157 out of 161 planned projects completed against a total outlay of ₹3,634 crore. The Srinagar initiative aims to transform the city into an eco-friendly, resilient urban centre.
Together, the twin Smart City programmes across Jammu and Kashmir represent a combined investment of over ₹6,574 crore in urban renewal — a scale of infrastructure activity that is reshaping both cities ahead of their full integration into the national urban mainstream.
Broader Impact on Tourism and Commerce
Recent project launches — spanning upgraded urban corridors, aesthetic public spaces, and modernised food hubs — are aimed at boosting local tourism and commerce. The Bahu Fort Food Street, in particular, has drawn attention as a model for combining heritage preservation with economic activation.
With the Smart City Mission's national mandate centred on making cities citizen-friendly and sustainable, Jammu's near-complete execution record sets a benchmark that other tier-2 cities are likely to be measured against going forward.
Point of View
But the real question is whether these upgraded corridors and food hubs translate into measurable economic uplift for residents. Infrastructure completion and infrastructure utilisation are different metrics, and India's Smart City programme has historically been stronger on the former. With J&K now under elected government after years of central rule, CM Abdullah's visible association with these inaugurations also carries a political subtext: demonstrating governance delivery ahead of the next electoral cycle.
NationPress
7 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Residency Road High Street project in Jammu?
It is an upgraded urban corridor in Jammu city developed at a cost of ₹9.18 crore under the Smart City Mission, inaugurated by J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on 7 August. The project aims to modernise infrastructure and improve public convenience for residents and visitors.
How many Smart City projects has Jammu completed?
Jammu has completed 125 out of 127 sanctioned Smart City projects worth ₹2,940 crore, representing nearly 98 per cent of all planned works. Only two projects — pond rejuvenation and certain ecological works — remain in their final phase.
What other projects have been inaugurated under Jammu's Smart City Mission?
Recent major inaugurations include the Heritage Trail and the Bahu Fort Food Street, alongside upgraded urban corridors and modernised food hubs designed to boost local tourism and commerce.
What is the status of the Srinagar Smart City Mission?
The Srinagar Smart City Mission has completed 157 of 161 planned projects worth ₹3,634 crore, with the initiative focused on transforming Srinagar into an eco-friendly and resilient city.
What is India's Smart City Mission?
The Smart City Mission is an urban renewal and retrofitting programme launched by the Government of India to develop citizen-friendly and sustainable cities across the country. It funds infrastructure, public spaces, and civic amenity upgrades in selected cities.
