The construction of a new government building is invariably presented as a symbol of development. A new hospital promises better healthcare, a new school offers improved facilities and a modern office is expected to make administration more efficient. There is certainly no argument against creating safe and modern public infrastructure. But in the enthusiasm surrounding new construction, an important question is often overlooked that what happens to the building the government leaves behind? Across Jammu and Kashmir, there are instances where institutions have shifted to newer premises while their old buildings have been left vacant, damaged, underused or allowed to deteriorate. Some have been declared unsafe, others damaged by fire while several have remained locked for years without a clear plan for their future. The issue is not merely about old buildings. It is about managing public assets, using valuable government land wisely and ensuring that infrastructure created with public money continues to serve the public.

The concern becomes greater because many such properties occupy prime locations in towns and cities. A building constructed decades ago on the edge of a settlement may today stand in the middle of a rapidly expanding urban area. Land in Srinagar, Jammu, Baramulla, Anantnag and other district headquarters is increasingly valuable, yet some government properties in these very locations remain unused after departments move out. As buildings deteriorate, they become vulnerable to vandalism, trespassing and unauthorised use. What was once a school, hospital or government office can eventually become an abandoned structure serving neither the government nor the public. It is a double loss where public money invested in the structure is wasted while the valuable land remains underutilised.

The old Government Girls Higher Secondary School building at Ashai Kocha, Fateh Kadal, Srinagar, became highly dilapidated after the school shifted to a new building, raising concerns about its safety and future use. Given its historic character, timely restoration could have enabled its reuse as........

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