Onlykashmir.in News Desk
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah inaugurated the renovated Jammu & Kashmir House at 2-Court Road in Amritsar on Wednesday, unveiling an upgraded facility that will provide affordable accommodation to patients, attendants, students, pilgrims and other visitors from Jammu and Kashmir travelling to the Punjab city.
The heritage property has been comprehensively upgraded with modern amenities aimed at offering comfortable and affordable stays for residents of Jammu and Kashmir visiting Amritsar, particularly patients and their attendants who travel there for medical treatment. Amritsar has long served as a key destination for Jammu and Kashmir residents seeking specialised healthcare, given its proximity and well-established medical infrastructure, making functional accommodation facilities of this kind a significant convenience for families under financial and emotional strain.
The renovation and upgradation work commenced in October 2025 and was completed at an approximate cost of Rs 2.30 crore. The scope of work included civil and electrical improvements, interior renovation, upgraded guest amenities, external development and allied infrastructure, transforming what officials described as an ageing heritage property into a modern, functional guesthouse. The upgraded facility now comprises four guest rooms, each equipped with dressing areas and attached washrooms, along with a common sitting lounge, dining area and kitchen for shared use by visitors.
Located in proximity to major hospitals and other important destinations in Amritsar, the facility is expected to primarily support patients and their attendants, while also serving students, pilgrims and other visitors from Jammu and Kashmir who require short-term accommodation in the city. During his visit, the Chief Minister inspected the upgraded facilities in detail and directed the concerned officers to ensure high standards of hospitality, cleanliness and maintenance going forward, signalling that the administration intends the property to be actively monitored rather than left to lapse after the renovation.
Speaking on the occasion, Abdullah said the facility would help ease the difficulties faced by patients and their families travelling outside Jammu and Kashmir for medical treatment, while also offering convenient and affordable accommodation to other categories of visitors from the Union Territory. He appreciated the efforts of the departments and officers involved in the renovation and upgradation of the property, and stressed the continued need to maintain the facility to high standards in the years ahead.
The Chief Minister was accompanied during the visit by his Advisor Nasir Aslam Wani, Additional Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister Dheeraj Gupta, Resident Commissioner of Jammu and Kashmir Ramesh Kumar, Secretary of Hospitality and Protocol Avny Lavasa, Additional Resident Commissioner Anil Sharma, and senior officers of the governments of Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab.
