As many as 33 villages have been added to the extended master plan to support planned and sustainable development of Katra, the base camp for devotees visiting Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine in Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir.
This information was shared during a high-level meeting headed by Commissioner Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Department (HUDD), Mandeep Kaur, in Katra. During the meeting, preparations and proposals linked to the Katra Master Plan were reviewed, an official stated on Wednesday.
She asked the officers to create a 10-year Master Plan that would guide Katra’s long-term growth and prepare it for future needs.
She reaffirmed the government’s commitment and said the administration aims to turn Katra into a well-planned, strong and modern town with better facilities for residents, devotees and tourists.
The review meeting focused on extending the local area, improving infrastructure and adding public feedback to the planning process. Kaur also assessed progress on major projects, such as the Inter Modal Station (IMS) and waste management systems.
Stressing the need for strong coordination between departments, Kaur told officers to clear all financial and administrative hurdles quickly so that important development projects can begin without delay.
She also highlighted the need for disaster preparedness and asked officers to inspect land near the railway station for disaster management planning. Kaur further directed the team to prepare a detailed ‘Green Action Plan’ to support environmental sustainability in Katra.
She informed that the School of Planning and Architecture (SPA) Delhi has been chosen to review and update the Katra Master Plan.
She said the latest and most advanced planning technologies will be used to ensure accurate, scientific and future-ready development for the holy town. She added that the green and red zones in the current master plan would be carefully reviewed and updated according to actual ground conditions.
Highlighting the importance of public-centric planning, she said the needs and expectations of local residents would be given proper importance while drafting the revised Master Plan.
She also said that work on the water supply project in Katra will start soon.
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