Srinagar, June 22: The Jammu & Kashmir Housing & Urban Development Department (H&UDD) has earned national recognition by securing two prestigious SKOCH National Awards—Gold and Silver—for its innovative digital governance initiatives aimed at improving public service delivery and urban administration.
The awards were conferred for two flagship projects developed under the leadership of Mandeep Kaur, Commissioner/Secretary, J&K H&UDD, whose focus on technology-driven governance has been instrumental in advancing digital transformation across the department.
Representing the department at the SKOCH Awards Ceremony in New Delhi, Ankush Kapoor, Chief Informatics Officer and Chief Information Security Officer (CISO), received the awards on behalf of the department.
The department received recognition for the projects including Automated Building Permission System (ABPS) using AutoDCR technology integrated with GIS-based land-use verification and J&K Gati Shakti GIS Asset Mapping System, designed for comprehensive GIS-based asset mapping, monitoring and infrastructure planning.
The Automated Building Permission System has streamlined the process of granting building permissions by enabling automated scrutiny of building plans while verifying land-use compliance through GIS integration. The initiative has significantly reduced processing time, improved transparency and strengthened regulatory compliance, thereby enhancing the ease of doing business for citizens and stakeholders.
Meanwhile, the J&K Gati Shakti GIS Asset Mapping System has facilitated digital mapping and monitoring of public infrastructure assets across Urban Local Bodies and government departments. The platform supports evidence-based planning, efficient asset management, inter-departmental coordination and informed decision-making through advanced geospatial technology.
Officials said the two initiatives have transformed governance processes by promoting transparency, improving monitoring mechanisms and enabling data-driven decision-making across the urban development sector.
Following the award ceremony, Ankush Kapoor formally presented the SKOCH Gold and Silver Awards to Mandeep Kaur in Srinagar, acknowledging her leadership and guidance in conceptualizing and implementing the projects.
Speaking on the occasion, the Commissioner/Secretary appreciated the efforts of departmental officers, technical teams, Urban Local Bodies and all stakeholders associated with the initiatives. She reiterated the department’s commitment to leveraging technology to deliver efficient, transparent and citizen-centric services.
The recognition further strengthens Jammu & Kashmir’s growing reputation in the field of digital governance and reflects the department’s continued efforts to build a modern, responsive and technology-enabled urban administration.
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