Leasing of JDA’s Rs 213 cr Bus Stand Complex
180 shops lie vacant even 4 yrs after inauguration
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, June 20: Nearly a year after the Board of Directors (BoD) of the Jammu Development Authority (JDA) approved the leasing of Multilevel Parking-cum-Commercial Complex at Bus Stand in Jammu, the decision remains unimplemented highlighting a glaring disconnect between policy formulation and execution on ground.
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As a result, around 180 shops in the complex continue to lie vacant even more than four years after its inauguration leading to substantial revenue losses for the JDA and turning a high-cost public asset into a financial burden.
Official sources told EXCELSIOR that the Board of Directors of the JDA, in its 89th meeting held on June 27 last year, had taken several important decisions-one of the key ones being the leasing of Multilevel Parking-cum-Commercial Complex at Bus Stand in Jammu. The move was widely welcomed in the official circles especially in the light of the fact that massive infrastructure has remained largely unutilized since its inauguration in February 2021.
“Nearly a year has passed since then but decision has not been translated into reality. The delay in completion of formalities for leasing of the complex persists despite approval from the Finance Department”, official sources told EXCELSIOR.
Dubbing the project a ‘white elephant’, sources said, “one year was more than sufficient to implement the decision especially when it is well known that the returns from the project are significantly lower than the investments made by the JDA”, adding “it is really astonishing that the sprawling complex, which was envisioned as a modern hub for transportation, commerce and public convenience, has failed to generate enough revenue even to cover its maintenance and security expenses”.
Spanning a built-up area of over 60,000 square meters, the complex includes 239 shops, a food court, office spaces and parking facilities for 80 buses, more than 1300 cars and over 175 two-wheelers. However, only 59 shops have been allotted so far primarily to the shopkeepers who were displaced due to the construction of the complex.
“A total of 180 shops remain vacant mainly due to high rental rates set by the Jammu Development Authority even though the revenue being generated through the outsourced parking operations is grossly inadequate for the maintenance costs of the complex. The remaining expenditure is being borne by the JDA from its own resources”, sources said.
They revealed that several business groups submitted representations to the JDA on multiple occasions requesting a reduction in shop rates. However, these appeals have not been taken seriously.
“Had the shop rates been fixed more rationally, this project could have been a game-changer for JDA’s finances,” an official observed, adding “the representations submitted by the business groups and others should have been seriously considered by those who were at the helm of affairs in the JDA over the years. Alternatively, other options could have been explored to ensure optimal utilization of the complex”.
“It appears that key factors were overlooked while determining the rates for shops of various sizes. Otherwise, such a large-scale complex would have generated substantial revenue for the JDA instead of turning into a white elephant,” sources remarked. Moreover, the officers who led the JDA during this period failed to effectively pursue the matter with higher authorities regarding the challenges in shop allotment.
It is pertinent to mention here that in the official statement issued following the inauguration of the complex in February 2021, it was claimed that facility would be a major step toward accommodating the business community and fulfilling essential requirements for a better quality of life for the citizens. However, these claims have proved to be hollow as the complex remains largely unutilized.
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