Srinagar: Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo chaired a high-level meeting to discuss the preliminary roadmap for the Centre for Innovation and Transformation in Governance (CITaG) in Jammu & Kashmir, focusing on economic growth, governance improvement, and planning reform. The meeting highlighted advancements in Public-Private Partnerships (PPP), governance transformation, and institutional capacity building within the Union Territory. Key officials from various departments attended the meeting, where the Chief Secretary emphasized CITaG’s importance in developing a comprehensive roadmap for J&K’s development. He stressed the need for collaboration among departments to enhance awareness of CITaG’s role in implementing impactful projects across sectors such as Industries, Tourism, Agriculture, and Urban Planning. The Chief Secretary encouraged the CITaG team to devise an effective implementation strategy, prioritizing a few key projects initially, including the development of an industrial estate through PPP. Participants contributed suggestions to improve CITaG’s efficiency, focusing on sustainable tourism, solar parks, waste management, and capacity building for government officials. The meeting reviewed CITaG’s progress, particularly in PPP projects, with CEO Dr. Sandeep reporting 63 projects with a potential investment of over Rs 21,988 crore. Currently, 21 projects are active, while 42 are in development, including initiatives to enhance tourism infrastructure and establish new ropeway projects. CITaG’s broader mandate encompasses 65 deliverables related to governance and economic development. The meeting also addressed the ongoing recruitment for CITaG’s team, with the first phase completed and the second phase underway, aimed at bolstering the administration’s vision for a “Future Ready Governance” model. The Chief Secretary concluded the meeting by urging continued momentum on transformative projects to drive economic growth and improve public services through strategic partnerships and innovative governance in J&K.
