The non-utilisation of the Rs 213 crore Multilevel Parking-cum-Commercial Complex at the Jammu Bus Stand is a glaring example of how public infrastructure, even in prime urban locations, is often rendered unproductive due to poor planning, misplaced priorities, and lack of vision. Despite nearly four years having passed since its inauguration and close to a year since the Board of Directors of the JDA approved its leasing, the sprawling complex continues to remain largely vacant. This reflects not just a delay in execution but a deeper malaise in institutional functioning. It is deeply troubling that 180 out of 239 shops continue to lie unoccupied, turning what was envisaged as a modern commercial hub into a white elephant. Right from its inception, the project was marred by conceptual flaws. Squeezed space for buses-a critical requirement for a facility meant to integrate with the city’s main bus terminal-defeated the core purpose. This, in turn, discouraged shopkeepers from investing in the new space. The situation was worsened by unrealistically high rental rates, making even interested business groups step back despite multiple representations to the JDA seeking rationalisation.
The fact that JDA has failed to act on these representations and continues to lack a concrete vision for utilising such a valuable commercial asset is nothing short of administrative apathy. More alarming is the continued burden on the Authority’s own resources to maintain the complex while the revenue from outsourced parking remains grossly inadequate. That no corrective measures have been taken despite obvious failure is a matter of concern. This project, located in the heart of Jammu city, could have been a financial backbone for the JDA and a dynamic hub for commerce and public convenience. Instead, it stands today as a symbol of how projects are visualised without grounding in practical realities, planned without input from stakeholders, and executed with no follow-up accountability. The lack of foresight has cost the public dearly-not just in monetary terms, but in lost opportunities. It is high time the Government steps in decisively. The complex must be brought into constructive use through a pragmatic lease policy, market-driven pricing, and multi-use planning.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
