‘All pending works to be completed by Oct 2025’
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 10: The Jammu and Kashmir Government today informed the Legislative Assembly that two sub-projects of the Mubarak Mandi Heritage Project, aimed at the restoration of the heritage building worth Rs 12.34 crore, have been completed, and seven worth Rs 33.85 crore are under progress, with most of them expected to be completed by October 2025.
Among the completed sub-projects are the Conservation of the Army Head Quarter MMJHS, completed at the cost of Rs 3.96 crores, and the Royal Court Gadavai Khanna Badi Deodi Phase-I, completed at the cost of Rs 8.38 crores. While the first project was completed in the year 2011, the second was completed in 2022.
Among those sub-projects that are under progress are the Conservation of Mahals of Raja Ram Singh Queen, taken up at the cost of Rs 3.80 crore, the Conservation of Raja Ram Singh Palace, taken up at the cost of Rs 4.59 crore, the Conservation of Dogra Art Museum, taken up at the cost of Rs 1.43 crore, the Conservation of Raja Amar Singh Palace, executed at the cost of Rs 3.22 crore, the Conservation of Darbar Hall at the cost of Rs 3.14 crore, the Redevelopment of the central Court MMJHS at the cost of Rs 19 lakh, and the Royal court Gadavai Khanna Badi Deodi Phase-II, being taken up at the cost of Rs 5.44 crore.
The Government further said that work on all the projects would be completed by October 2025, as the Conservation of Mahals of Raja Ram Singh Queen would be completed by the current month (March 2025), the Conservation of Raja Ram Singh Palace by July 2025, the Conservation of Dogra Art Museum and Raja Amar Singh Palace by August 2025, the Conservation of Darbar Hall by September 2025, and the Redevelopment of Central Court MMJHS by October 2025.
No timeline was shared for the Royal Court Gadavai Khanna Badi Deodi Phase-II, as the project is being taken up by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
In reply to an unstarred question of Yudhvir Sethi, the BJP legislator from the Jammu East Assembly segment, regarding the date of completion of the Mubarak Mandi Heritage Project and the expenditure incurred on it so far, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who also holds the charge of Tourism Minister, claimed, “Two sub-projects of this project worth Rs 12.34 crore have been completed, and 7 other sub-projects worth Rs 33.85 crore are under progress.”
Replying to another question about the Government’s plans for creating more tourist destinations in Jammu city to attract more tourists, the Chief Minister said the Department of Tourism has been working on a multifaceted approach to develop the tourist destinations in Jammu city to attract a greater number of tourists and has executed several projects under the State Capex Budget and Swadesh Darshan Scheme.
Omar Abdullah, who is in charge of the Tourism Ministry, further stated that major infrastructure assets created under different schemes at various tourist locations in Jammu city include the construction of musical water fountains with sound and light shows at Bagh-e-Bahu, development of tourist facilities at Bhagwati Nagar, development of tourist facilities at Sidhra Golf Course, construction of an amusement park near Sidhra Golf Course, the Ropeway project from Mahamaya to Bagh-e-Bahu, and Jambu Zoo at Nagrota.
“Further, to enhance the appeal of the Mubarak Mandi Heritage Complex and attract more tourists and locals, a project, namely the installation of a vertical lift from Peerkho to Mubarak Mandi Complex costing Rs 27 crore, has been approved for execution in Jammu City,” the CM replied.
Heritage conservation & beautification, road & transport improvement, riverfront development, facade lighting of historic buildings and Tawi Bridge, and light & sound shows are among the other projects being taken up to increase the tourist footfall in Jammu City, the CM said.
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