LG Manoj Sinha Inaugurates 1,416 Transit Flats for PM Package Employees, Reaffirms Commitment to Dignified Return of Kashmiri Pandits
Srinagar, November 01: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Sunday inaugurated 1,416 newly constructed transit accommodation flats for employees appointed under the Prime Minister’s Package at three locations across the Kashmir Valley, describing the initiative as an important step towards ensuring better living conditions for employees and facilitating the dignified return of Kashmiri Pandit families to their homeland.
The main inauguration ceremony was held at the Transit Residential Complex in Zewan, Srinagar, while residential complexes at Kakan Maran in Budgam and Kulangam Bagh in Kupwara were inaugurated virtually.
Addressing the gathering, the Lieutenant Governor said the completion of 1,416 flats across the three locations reflected a significant commitment towards providing secure and dignified accommodation to PM Package employees. He observed that each residential unit represented the aspirations, resilience and hopes of a family seeking a secure future in Kashmir.
Highlighting the scale of the project, the Lieutenant Governor said that the overall transit accommodation programme envisages the construction of 6,000 flats across 342 blocks at 20 locations in 10 districts of the Kashmir Valley. The project was accelerated in 2020 under a mission-mode approach.
Of the 6,000 sanctioned flats, construction of more than 5,200 has been completed, while over 3,800 have already been allotted to eligible employees.
Giving details of the newly inaugurated complexes, the Lieutenant Governor said the Zewan residential complex, the largest under the programme, comprises 936 flats spread across 39 blocks, all of which have been allotted. The Kulangam Bagh complex in Kupwara comprises 288 flats across 18 blocks, while the Kakan Maran complex in Budgam has 192 flats across 12 blocks.
He directed the concerned departments to expedite the construction of the remaining nearly 700 flats under the PM Package programme and ensure their timely completion. Additional Chief Secretary, Public Works (R&B) Department, Anil Kumar Singh, assured that the remaining accommodation would be completed by December this year.
The Lieutenant Governor also appreciated the efforts of labourers, engineers, Public Works Department officials, the Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, district administrations, J&K Police, security forces and agencies responsible for establishing essential water and electricity infrastructure. He particularly acknowledged the dedicated services of employees working in the Valley under the PM Package programme.
Emphasising that the completion of residential infrastructure must be followed by sustained attention to the welfare of its occupants, Sinha directed officials to ensure uninterrupted electricity and water supply, robust security arrangements, efficient waste management and prompt redressal of residents' grievances.
Reiterating his commitment to the dignified return of Kashmiri Pandit families, the Lieutenant Governor said their contribution remained inseparable from Kashmir's historical, literary, spiritual and cultural identity.
"Kashmir is incomplete without Kashmiri Pandits and it is deprived of a precious part of its soul," he said, adding that the literary consciousness, spiritual heritage and cultural splendour of Kashmir could not be fully understood without acknowledging the invaluable contribution of the community.
He further stated that the dignified return of Kashmiri Pandit families was essential to restoring the historical heritage and human dignity of the Kashmir Division.
"The natural, cultural and spiritual beauty of this entire region will attain completeness only when Kashmiri Pandit brothers and sisters return to their homeland with respect, security and confidence," the Lieutenant Governor said.
Among those present at the inaugural ceremony were Additional Chief Secretary, Public Works (R&B) Department, Anil Kumar Singh; Commissioner Secretary, Disaster Management, Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction, M. Raju; Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Anshul Garg; IGP Kashmir, Sujit Singh; SSP Srinagar, Dr. G.V. Sundeep Chakravarthy; Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, Akshay Labroo; Relief and Rehabilitation Commissioner, Arvind Karwani; senior government officials, prominent citizens and PM Package employees. ANB
