Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 10: An RTI filed by activist Balvinder Singh has revealed a major lapse in the Jammu Smart City Project, leading to the demolition of 58 newly installed wayfinding signages worth Rs 3.4 crore during the widening of the Satwari-Kunjwani road.
Quoting the RTI reply received from the Additional CEO of Jammu Smart City Limited, Singh said 682 signages were installed across Jammu between 2020 and December 2022 at a cost of Rs 10.20 crore.
“However, within just two years, several high-value signages-including three costing Rs 35.5 lakh each and another three worth Rs 7.5 lakh each-were dismantled,” he said.
According to him, the installations were reportedly put up without obtaining the mandatory No Objection Certificates (NOCs) from the National Highways Authority of India, ignoring future road expansion plans and “Right of Way” provisions.
Singh alleged that while ordinary citizens must secure NOCs from various departments before construction near roads, the authorities bypassed this requirement, resulting in a waste of taxpayer money.
He also claimed that the dismantled signages were stored in a workshop but said his request to inspect the site was denied.
He later traced the dumping ground himself and documented the damaged structures.
Calling it a case of administrative negligence and lack of accountability, Singh appealed to the Lieutenant Governor and the Chief Minister to order a high-level probe to fix responsibility for the financial loss.
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