Despite repeated pronouncements and directions from the highest echelons of power in J&K, the formulation of Master Plans for Tourism Development Authorities (TDAs) remains a non-starter. This is not just a delay in bureaucratic procedure-it is a serious structural deficiency that continues to choke the tourism potential of the UT, particularly the Jammu region. The admission by the Tourism Department that it lacks funds to commission the J&K Town Planning Organisation for this crucial exercise is both baffling and deeply concerning. Master Plans are not ornamental documents; they are fundamental to any sustainable and regulated development process. Their absence makes any form of structured growth impossible. A Master Plan not only maps future expansion but also integrates aspects like land use, eco-sensitivity, carrying capacity, infrastructure, and regulatory mechanisms-all essential for developing tourism destinations that are both attractive and sustainable.
The irony is stark. While the Government has laid repeated emphasis-most recently in November 2024 and again in February 2025-on preparing Master Plans for every TDA, there are no financial provisions to back this intent. What adds salt to the wound is that many of these TDAs have been struggling for over a decade to get their Master Plans approved or even initiated. Take the case of Patnitop, a major tourist destination under the ambit of the Supreme Court’s eco-sensitive directives. While no construction can take place in the core eco-zone, the Patnitop Master Plan 2000-covering areas outside the eco-sensitive region-has been pending for more than ten years. In the absence of a Master Plan, the scope for any development project or public-private tourism initiative is effectively blocked. The situation is no different in Mansar and Surinsar, two Ramsar-listed lakes with immense tourism potential. Their Master Plan has been lying dormant for years. The region comprises wildlife sanctuaries, forest zones, state land, and private holdings-all entangled in ambiguity due to the lack of a formal land-use framework. Without a Master Plan, there is neither direction nor clarity.
This lack of clarity is not just a planning failure-it is an economic opportunity lost. These areas, along with others like Kishtwar, Doda, Poonch, Rajouri, and Gurez, represent the next frontier of tourism in J&K. With destinations like Gulmarg, Sonamarg, Pahalgam, and Srinagar already saturated beyond capacity, the need to develop alternative sites is urgent. Yet, without Master Plans, no centrally sponsored tourism schemes can be implemented. That means no new projects, no infrastructure upgrades, and no investor interest. Even more paradoxical is the fact that despite hundreds of crores allocated to the tourism sector in J&K annually, the Tourism Department claims it doesn’t have the minimal funds required to kick-start this foundational planning process.
This disconnect between policy announcements and actual execution needs to be addressed immediately. The Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, who also holds the portfolios of Finance and Tourism, must intervene personally. An urgent meeting of all stakeholders, including representatives from TDAs, the Town Planning Organisation, the Finance Department, and district administrations, must be convened. Adequate and earmarked funding needs to be allocated in the upcoming financial cycle-or even earlier through supplementary grants. Moreover, the process need not be centralised or top-heavy. TDAs should be asked to prepare preliminary development frameworks tailored to their specific regions. These can then be finalised in consultation with the Town Planning Organisation and Directorates of Tourism. This would also allow some flexibility and avoid bottlenecks in a single-agency model.
TDAs have limited annual budgets. Without Master Plans, they can’t tap into central schemes, nor can they attract investors under public-private partnerships. The entire ecosystem of tourism development in J&K is effectively stalled due to this one missing link. The Government must rise to the occasion. Master Plans are not an administrative formality; they are the bedrock upon which the entire tourism edifice rests. If J&K truly intends to position tourism as a key pillar of its economic strategy, this issue must be treated with the urgency and seriousness it deserves. Immediate course correction is required.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
