SRINAGAR, Oct 5: The Jammu and Kashmir Government on Monday notified the Jammu and Kashmir Common Duct Policy 2026, aimed at establishing shared underground utility corridors for power, water, telecom, gas and digital networks.
The policy, approved by the Council of Ministers, seeks to streamline utility management and reduce repeated excavation of roads for installation, repair and maintenance of different services.
According to the Office of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, the policy provides a framework for integrating utility ducts into new roads while also allowing phased retrofitting of existing roads.
It also provides for single-window Right of Way (RoW) clearances, cost-sharing arrangements and digital mapping of utility assets through the Call Before You Dig platform.
The government said the measures are aimed at preventing repeated road digging, protecting public infrastructure, reducing utility operation and maintenance costs, curbing visual clutter and supporting planned urban development and digital connectivity across Jammu and Kashmir.
Under the Common Duct Policy, shared underground corridors will accommodate multiple utilities, including electricity cables, telecom and fibre-optic lines, water pipes, gas pipelines and other networks within a common infrastructure.
The policy mandates that shared ducts be made available on a transparent, non-exclusive and non-discriminatory basis to eligible utility service providers.
By reducing the need for repeated trenching, the system is also expected to minimise traffic disruptions, dust and noise and improve road safety. It will additionally facilitate the shifting of utility networks underground, reducing dependence on overhead wires and poles.
The policy further provides for common utility infrastructure to be incorporated at the design stage of urban, industrial and housing projects. High-traffic existing roads will be considered for phased retrofitting.
The Jammu and Kashmir Government has notified the policy through Government Order No. 199-JK(HUD) of 2026, laying down a framework for coordinated underground utility planning and management across the Union Territory.
