Amritsar, Sept 17: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday inaugurated the renovated Jammu and Kashmir House at Amritsar, Punjab.
The heritage property, located at 2-Court Road, Amritsar has been comprehensively upgraded with modern amenities to provide affordable and comfortable accommodation to residents of Jammu and Kashmir visiting Amritsar, particularly patients and their attendants travelling to the city for medical treatment.
The renovation and upgradation works commenced in October 2025 and were completed at an approximate cost of ₹2.30 crore. The works covered civil and electrical works, interiors, guest amenities, external development and allied infrastructure.
The upgraded facility comprises four guest rooms with attached dressing areas and washrooms, besides a common sitting lounge, dining area and kitchen.
Located close to major hospitals and other key destinations in the city, the J&K House will serve as an important support facility for patients and their attendants, besides benefiting students, pilgrims and other visitors from Jammu and Kashmir.
The Chief Minister inspected the upgraded facilities and directed the concerned officers to maintain high standards of hospitality, cleanliness and upkeep for guests.
Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister said the facility would help ease the difficulties faced by patients and their families travelling outside Jammu and Kashmir for treatment, while also providing a convenient and affordable place to stay for other visitors from J&K.
The Chief Minister appreciated the efforts of the departments and officers involved in the renovation and upgradation of the property and stressed the importance of maintaining the facility to high standards.
Talking to reporters, Omar said the facility will be made available to people from Jammu and Kashmir who travel to Amritsar for medical treatment and often face difficulties finding affordable accommodation.
"We want to ensure that patients coming from Jammu and Kashmir for treatment, and their family members accompanying them, have a place to stay and do not face unnecessary hardship," he said.
A similar accommodation facility is being developed on Jammu and Kashmir government property in Chandigarh's Sector 17, he said. It would cater to patients and attendants travelling for treatment at the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) and other medical institutions in Chandigarh.
On a debate over possible charges linked to Unified Payments Interface (UPI) transactions, Omar said ordinary users should be protected from additional costs and distinguished person-to-person transfers from commercial transactions.
"Person-to-person money transfers carry no charge," the CM said, adding that ordinary consumers should be spared any fee.
"If companies are charged, then I have no objection," he said, arguing that maintaining the digital payment infrastructure involves substantial costs.
Turning to Jammu and Kashmir's economy, Omar said investment had not materialised on the scale that had been expected after the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019.
He said Jammu and Kashmir's geography and economic conditions meant it could not simply replicate an industrial model suited to states such as neighbouring Punjab.
"We have to look at what suits Jammu and Kashmir and what raw material is locally available," he said.
The government would therefore focus on sectors including agriculture, horticulture, agro-processing and dairy farming, he said, with the aim of building economic activity around Jammu and Kashmir's existing resources and generating local employment.
Omar said an investment strategy for the region had to take account of its terrain, resources and local economic strengths rather than depend primarily on large, heavy industrial projects.