Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, Oct 6: Constructed in year 1991, the Transport Nagar, Jammu the another hub of State’s trade is facing the complete official apathy for years together as authorities have failed to main this trade center on modern lines.
All the plans of State Government to make it a model of trade market in Jammu have fell through as the JDA which has constructed it over two decades back is facing scarcity of funds for maintaining it.
Spread over 1200 kanals of land Transport Nagar comprises of one thousand business establishments including shops, plots, workshops, transport companies offices, goods carrier operators, Government offices and depots of Multi National Companies (MNCs) etc besides 130 big plots.
But the present condition of this one of the major trade hubs of the State is like a ghetto with dingy and dilapidated roads, chocked drains, broken dividers on all internal roads and dilapidated condition of yards etc.
The failure of the authorities to maintain the Transport Nagar has led to the worries of traders who shifted to this new market in 1991 and afterwards from different parts of the city. “We had shifted here with this expectation that it will be a fully developed market having all facilities but all our hopes have now dashed to ground as authorities have completely failed to provide basic infrastructure to the Transport Nagar by developing it on modern lines” said Sarabjit Singh president Transport Nagar Traders Welfare Association.
There is total insanitation in Transport Nagar as Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) has failed to take steps in this regard, he said, adding despite the directives of Principal Secretary, Housing and Urban Development Department, Suresh Kumar to JMC authorities to take care of sanitation in Transport Nagar two years back, the Civic Body took no pains in this regard till date with the result entire garbage in on roads and there is no scientific disposal of the same, he added.
Moreover the drains are chocked and the problem takes a critical turn during Monsoon and the traders in side the Transport Nagar apprehend that epidemic may grip it at any time if immediate steps were not taken to maintain proper sanitation of this one of the important trade centers of the State, he said.
The roads constructed over two decades back got washed away in rainy water over the years and on entry to this trade hub one wonders whether roads have ever been constructed here or not said, Deepak Daftri, general secretary of the Association.
The water scarcity and low voltage are other major problems being faced by the traders here, he said. The Power Development Department (PDD) has proposed 250 kva Sub Station in the works programme but due to the paucity of funds the work has not been started on the same till date. Likewise for water supply a Project report namely Fruit Mandi Narwal has been framed under NRDWP at an estimated cost of Rs 25.68 lakh against which Rs five lakh were also released. The project was to be completed in two years but it fell through for want of funds, added Daftri.
He said there is no facility of dispensary in entire Transport Nagar and demanded that convince deed should be abolished and it should be replaced by sale deed.
However showing inability to take up the development of the Transport Nagar in hand on large scale basis, the authorities said that they are facing paucity of funds fro the same as entire project including construction of all roads, lanes and drains with dividers and yards needs an amount of Rs 30 crore approximately.
Authorities said that Rs one crore have been allotted for the development of Transport Nagar for this financial year and still the funds have not come as yet. The organisation receives funds at the fag end of financial year which is a big handicap in taking up the construction in hand.
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