The establishment of the ITPI J&K Regional Chapter offers a crucial pathway to solve the region's pressing urban issues and carve out a sustainable future. It directly combats the dearth of planners and institutional paralysis by creating a professional hub that attracts, retains, and mentors talent while organizing vital training and workshops. This unified, credible voice can then advocate with government bodies and policymakers to foster the necessary political will, pushing for robust city administrations and demonstrating planning's critical role in development. The Chapter will spearhead sustainable frameworks, integrating climate resilience, promoting green transport, and advocating for inclusive housing. By strengthening the profession and advocating for well-planned cities, it can foster an environment where skilled youth find viable employment, alleviating planner’s and citizen distress. In essence, the Regional Chapter ITPI provides the institutional framework and technical expertise to transform the current planning deficit into a strategic path towards resilient and sustainable urban development for Jammu & Kashmir.

ITP India

The Institute of Town Planners, India (ITPI), established in 1951, stands as the apex professional body for town and country planners across India. With a membership base of over 6,500 professionals and a network of 24 regional chapters and 5 centers, the organization continues to shape the planning discourse nationwide. Among these, the Kashmir Regional Chapter holds particular significance due to the region's distinct geographical, environmental, and socio-political characteristics that call for a planning approach sensitive to local realities. On July 26, 2025, the ITPI Kashmir Chapter conducted its regional elections in Srinagar. This electoral event culminated in the formation of a new full council that is now operational and tasked with guiding the chapter’s direction, functioning, and contributions in the coming years. Though specific details regarding the identities of elected office bearers have not yet surfaced in the public domain—likely due to the event's recent occurrence—the outcome represents a fresh institutional opportunity for strategic engagement in Jammu and Kashmir’s planning discourse.
The elections are an important milestone for the region’s planning fraternity. The democratic selection of a new leadership council reinforces the institutional integrity of the regional chapter and ensures the continuation of critical functions such as organizing capacity-building workshops, facilitating policy dialogues, mentoring early-career planners, and fostering regional collaborations. Given the evolving urban challenges and the planning vacuum in some areas, the significance of having an active and representative body like the ITPI Kashmir Chapter cannot be overstated. The region is at a crossroads: with increasing pressures of urbanization, ecological sensitivity, and the lingering implications of political and administrative transitions following the reorganization of Jammu and Kashmir into a Union Territory in 2019, the need for localized, technically sound, and community-driven planning interventions has never been more urgent.
The ITPI’s structure offers a decentralized approach, empowering regional chapters to address area-specific needs. These chapters are administered by an executive council typically composed of a Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, and elected members who together steer the chapter’s strategic and operational priorities. These councils are elected periodically by local members, ensuring that representation is grounded in community confidence and regional understanding. The recently elected council in J&K is therefore not only the result of a procedural formality but a crucial reactivation of professional agency at the regional level. While searches across ITPI’s official platforms and public news outlets did not yield details of the newly elected officials—understandable given the recency of the polls—what matters most at this stage is that the council is functional, offering an institutional anchor for planning conversations in Kashmir.
J&K’S urban and regional planning landscape is both delicate and complex. It is a region renowned for its stunning natural beauty—snow-clad mountains, riverine networks, and fertile valleys—yet it is equally vulnerable to environmental degradation, climate-induced risks, haphazard urbanization, and cultural dilution. The balance between growth and preservation is delicate. Planners in this region must negotiate development needs while ensuring the protection of fragile ecosystems, preservation of architectural heritage, and maintenance of cultural identity. These tasks are compounded by infrastructural constraints, informal settlements, the threat of disasters such as floods and landslides, and a fragile economic base often over-dependent on tourism. In this context, the new ITPI ,J&K council has an enormous responsibility and an even greater opportunity—to chart a course that harmonizes local aspirations with sustainable planning principles.
One of the immediate benefits of a functional regional council is the potential to rejuvenate local planning dialogues. The J&K Chapter can now convene workshops, seminars, and technical training sessions that expose planners, administrators, and stakeholders to contemporary planning tools and global best practices. These forums also create opportunities to spotlight J&K’s unique case, generating localized knowledge and informing national planning discourse. Moreover, the council is expected to engage with universities and academic institutions across the Union Territory to embed practical planning education into academic syllabi, mentor students, and build a pipeline of locally-rooted but globally competent professionals.
Another key area of intervention lies in policy advocacy. The regional chapter, through its new leadership, is well-positioned to engage with local government bodies and policy-making authorities to advocate for context-specific planning solutions. J&K’s planning needs are not identical to those of metropolitan cities or industrial corridors; hence, policy instruments must be adjusted to suit the scale, terrain, demography, and socio-economic reality of the region. With its institutional legitimacy and professional acumen, the ITPI Kashmir J&K Chapter can act as a critical bridge between communities, planners, and policy frameworks, particularly in areas such as land-use regulation, disaster preparedness, urban transport, housing affordability, and sustainable tourism.
The role of regional planners in shaping development narratives post-2019 reorganization is especially pertinent. The administrative transition to a Union Territory brought with it new governance dynamics, a restructured planning apparatus, and potential for increased central investments. However, these changes also surfaced anxieties around cultural marginalization, heritage erosion, and unchecked infrastructural expansion. It is within this sensitive context that the ITPI,J&K Chapter must assert its role—not as a bureaucratic body, but as a professional entity committed to inclusive, equitable, and sustainable planning. The newly elected council can initiate dialogue platforms that invite participation from local communities, civil society actors, academics, and the private sector to co-create spatial visions for J&K’s cities and towns.
Importantly, J&K’s increasing exposure to climate vulnerabilities makes it essential for planners to prioritize resilience and adaptation in their frameworks. Events such as the 2014 floods, recurring landslides, and unpredictable snowfall patterns have underscored the fragility of existing infrastructure and the need for integrated disaster risk reduction strategies. The ITPI council, through multi-stakeholder consultations and technical partnerships, can push for zoning reforms, improved drainage systems, green infrastructure, and ecological conservation plans that protect both people and landscapes. Promoting multifunctional land use, green building codes, and climate-sensitive designs are steps that must be embedded in all future planning efforts in the Valley.
Moreover, the J&K Chapter holds potential to function as a knowledge hub by facilitating regional collaboration, not only within Jammu and Kashmir but also with other Himalayan and mountainous regions facing similar challenges. Networking with ITPI chapters in Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, or even international associations working in the Hindukush-Himalayan belt can bring fresh perspectives and shared learning experiences. As urbanization accelerates in the region, a peer-learning framework will help avoid the pitfalls of ad-hoc development, offering instead a pathway informed by evidence, experience, and empathy.
A reenergized chapter can also focus on planning for sustainable tourism—a sector vital to J&K’s economy but one that brings with it immense planning pressures. Unregulated tourist inflows strain local infrastructure, increase waste generation, and often disturb ecological equilibrium. The ITPI council can facilitate dialogue on visitor carrying capacities, tourism zoning, eco-tourism models, and transport regulation to ensure that tourism supports rather than erodes the region’s socio-ecological balance. Such planning must be participatory, bringing in voices from communities that depend on tourism while also safeguarding their rights and access to common resources.
Institutionally, the chapter now has the chance to increase visibility and strengthen membership engagement. For years, many urban planners working in or hailing from J&K may have felt disconnected from the core activities of ITPI due to geographic and communication barriers. The new council can address this by improving digital presence, issuing regular newsletters, inviting members to contribute research or case studies, and organizing on-ground events that blend professional learning with community interaction. Active involvement of early-career planners, women professionals, and rural development experts can further diversify the chapter’s base and vision.
The recent elections also open a window to reflect on how professional institutions like ITPI can deepen democratic practices within their own structures. Transparency in council functioning, regular feedback mechanisms, and inclusion of marginal voices can turn the chapter into a model for participatory professional governance. The Kashmir council can pioneer these changes, setting precedents for other regional chapters.

Significance of ITPI Regional Chapter

The formation of a new full council for the ITPI Kashmir Regional Chapter following the elections on July 26, 2025, represents more than just a procedural update. It is a signal of professional resurgence, a commitment to regional planning excellence, and an opportunity to steer Kashmir’s development with foresight and responsibility. Despite the current absence of publicly available information about the elected office bearers, the most important takeaway is that the chapter is now functional, empowered, and poised to act. The months ahead will reveal the initiatives the council chooses to prioritize and the partnerships it forges. However, what is already clear is that Kashmir’s planning fraternity has regained a crucial institutional platform through which to advocate, innovate, and collaborate. If used wisely, this platform can help transform the planning landscape of Jammu and Kashmir—not just structurally but also in spirit, ensuring that development is rooted in resilience, guided by equity, and shaped by collective wisdom.
On July 26, 2025, the Institute of Town Planners, India (ITPI) marked a significant milestone by holding its inaugural elections for the newly established Regional Chapter in Jammu and Kashmir. Held in Srinagar during the Annual General Meeting (AGM), the elections were conducted in accordance with ITPI’s byelaws, ensuring a fair, structured, and transparent process. This historic occasion marked the first time the region had a fully constituted chapter, setting the stage for a new era in regional urban planning.

Council Election Results

The elections focused on selecting key leadership positions, including the Chairman and Vice Chairman. Two candidates contested each of these posts. For the Chairman’s position, the contenders were Mr. Iftikhar Ahmad Hakim and Mr. Gulzar Ahmad Dar, while the Vice Chairman’s post saw a contest between Mr. Gulam Hassan Mir and Mr. Raashid Aslam Moghal. Fifteen members participated in the voting process, signifying an encouraging level of engagement within the planning fraternity. The results were decisive: Mr. Gulzar Ahmad Daremerged victorious and was elected Chairman, and similarly Mr. Raashid Aslam Moghal secured the Vice Chairman position. Both received 12 out of the 15 votes cast, indicating substantial support and confidence in their leadership potential. Alongside these key appointments, nine other Council Members were elected unopposed, completing the leadership framework of the chapter.

Reigns in the Hands of Young Brigade

Beyond the numbers, this election was emblematic of a deeper shift within the planning community in Jammu and Kashmir. A defining feature of the outcome was the overwhelming success of younger planners, who not only secured the top two positions but also claimed all other council seats. This generational shift highlighted an undercurrent of dissatisfaction among younger professionals regarding the perceived stagnation and self-centeredness of senior members. The younger cohort expressed discontent with how senior planners had historically prioritized personal gain over collective goals, resulting in poor urban planning outcomes, a decline in the status of planning institutions, and diminished respect for the profession at large.
This frustration seems to have crystallized into a call for change, with younger members rallying around a shared desire to reorient the profession toward greater community engagement, transparency, and responsiveness. Their victory represents more than just a numerical win and symbolizes a collective stand against entrenched leadership practices and an assertion of new priorities centered on professionalism, advocacy, and strategic urban development.
The outcome of this election has profound implications for urban planning in Jammu and Kashmir. With a fresh slate of younger professionals at the helm, the chapter may now pursue a more inclusive and dynamic approach to addressing the region’s complex planning challenges. These include strengthening institutional roles, advocating for meaningful participation in policymaking, and restoring the professional dignity that many feel has eroded under prior leadership.

Bottom line

The successful establishment of the ITPI Regional Chapter in Jammu and Kashmir, underscored by a clear generational transition in leadership, signals the beginning of a new chapter for planners in the region. The enthusiastic participation and support extended to the newly elected members reflect hope for a revitalized approach to urban development. With young planners at the forefront, this development carries the promise of renewed institutional energy, stronger professional ethics, and a planning discourse more attuned to the realities and aspirations of contemporary Kashmir.

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