Srinagar, Oct 5: The Jammu and Kashmir Government on Monday notified the Jammu and Kashmir Common Duct Policy 2026paving the way for shared underground utility corridors for power, water, telecom, gas and digital networks and aimed at ending repeated excavation of roads for laying or repairing separate utility lines.
The policy, notified through Government Order No. 199-JK(HUD) of 2026, follows approval by the Council of Ministers and seeks to promote modern urban infrastructure, efficient utility management and cleaner cityscapes across the Union Territory.
According to the Office of Chief Minister Omar Abdullahthe policy mandates integration of common ducts in new roads while providing for phased retrofitting of existing roads. It also introduces single-window Right of Way (RoW) clearances, cost-sharing mechanisms and digital asset mapping through the Call Before You Dig platform.
The government said the measures would prevent repeated road digging, protect public infrastructure, reduce utility operation and maintenance costs, curb visual clutter and facilitate planned urban growth and digital connectivity.
Under the policy, common underground corridors comprising conduits, ducts and cable pathways will accommodate multiple utility services, including electricity, telecom and fibre-optic lines, water and gas pipelines and other networks within a unified infrastructure.
The policy provides that shared ducts will be made available on a transparent, non-exclusive and non-discriminatory basis, allowing multiple service providers to use the infrastructure.
It also aims to minimise traffic disruptions, dust, noise and roadside safety risks associated with repeated trenching, besides reducing overhead wires and poles by facilitating the shift of utilities underground.
The policy provides for underground utility planning at the design stage for urban, industrial and housing projects, while envisaging phased retrofitting of common ducts along high-traffic existing roads.