In the review meeting of Jammu District Development Board, conducted with the Deputy Chief Minister in the chair, official side announced a flurry of projects at an estimated cost of 1100 crore rupees for Jammu.
The project of twin circular roads bypassing the main city from east and west will undoubtedly, give a new lease of life to the city which is choked by heavy traffic and the emission of smoke from the vehicles. This is a very innovative idea conceived by some brainy functionary. It is important to understand that Jammu city is the main transport hub of the State controlling traffic circuits to Kashmir, Ladakh, Rajouri, Poonch, Bhadarwah, Kishtwar and Doda. Trade and commerce activities on inter-regional and intra-regional levels have increased manifold and Jammu is gradually emerging as the most important city of Northern India after Jalandhar in Punjab. More than a decade ago, the State Government had begun to mull the idea of removing the bus stand from its present location and relocate it somewhere else with sufficient space to cater to the needs of the people and reduce traffic congestion. Nothing happened because the transport lobby in the State is unique in nature. It brought political pressure on whichever party was in power and managed to forestall the plan of shifting the bus stand. The present bus stand is a virtual chaos. We hope that with the execution of the twin circular road plan, the congestion and crowding at the present bus stop will be minimized.
Another ambitious project is of beautifying the banks of Tawi on the pattern of Sabarmati River in Gujarat. In fact a team of Government officials had visited Sabarmati and has submitted its report in which a comprehensive programme of giving a completely and unprecedented shape to the riverbanks is proposed. On the recommendation of the Review Committee, the Government has decided to undertake ambitious project for beautification of river Tawi from Sidhra up to the fourth bridge at Ware House. The project is estimated to cost Rs 1100 crores and will be executed under PPP (Public Private Partnership) scheme mode on the pattern of Sabarmati River in Gujarat, developed by Sabarmati Development Corporation. To cope with the increasing number of pilgrims to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi in Trikuta Hills and tourists to Kashmir and Ladakh, the Government has decided to have an alternative airport somewhere near Samba. The army has already agreed to vacate the land under its occupation adjacent to the existing airport so that extension of Jammu airport takes place.
Constituting a committee headed by the Divisional Commissioner of Jammu was ordered keeping in mind the necessity of periodical review of the projects underway and the progress achieved so far. The purpose is that all announced projects should be completed within the stipulated timeframe. A number of other schemes have been approved for Jammu region and at the same time, authorities have been instructed to expedite these. The Deputy Chief Minister directed the authorities to ensure completion of Sher-i-Kashmir Institute for Convention Centre (SKICC) Jammu by December 2015. This will meet the long-standing need of the Government to have a big and modern convention complex for important functions, conferences and seminars.
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