Rajan Gandhi
Once constrained to the stretch from Mubarak Mandi to Gumat Gate, Jammu city has now expanded significantly across its length and breadth. Change is the beauty of life but as far as Jammu is concerned it seems it has seen many more changes in a short span. Once a city from Panjthirthi to Gumat, Jammu has seen too many things just vanishing from the canvas in no time. No more are the ponds outside Mubarak Mandi where Ranis used to have a bath, or the more hustle and bustle of court premises at Mubarak Mandi. Old Fattu-di-Chowgan is no more a channa/fullian bazaar, but now Patel Bazaar of ladies’ cosmetics and dresses bazaar, and a similar case is Pucca Dunga, which was a hub of kite shops. Yes, certain things are there, like Kachalu ki rehari and Bansi ka Gulab Jamun, to enjoy the old flavour.
While modernising the historic core of the city poses formidable challenges, it is not insurmountable with strategic planning. Certain foundational parameters must be meticulously maintained for any city to thrive. These include robust sanitation systems, efficient waste management, comprehensive sewage treatment, stringent anti-encroachment measures, expansive green spaces, and well-planned urban development. The Jammu Municipal Corporation has been making commendable strides in the realms of cleanliness, solid waste management, and the overall beautification of Jammu City. With a series of progressive initiatives and smart city projects, JMC has not only enhanced the city’s landscape but also enriched the quality of life for its residents. The impact of these initiatives, which are paving the way for Jammu to evolve into a model urban centre that blends its cultural heritage with modernity, is becoming visible now.
The JMC, previously known as the Jammu Municipality, was upgraded to municipal corporation status, and the city was divided into 75 wards. The area of the Jammu Municipal Corporation has been expanded to include additional areas, increasing its overall area to approximately 240 square kilometres. The expansion included areas from different constituencies, such as Digiana Niabat, Sidhra Niabat, and Bahu Niabat. The expansion included areas like Deeli, Bhour, Gadigarh, Rangoora, Dhawara, Majeen, Chakrattnoo, Chakjhalloo, Kaluchak, Sunjwan, and Chowadhi. The goal of this expansion is to provide modern living and urban facilities in these areas.
Factually, for any city to become a model city, a few factors are most important, which include sanitation, a good drainage system, roads, footpaths, amenities, green spaces, parks, well-maintained heritage, and proper upkeep of water bodies. Unfortunately, the kind of unplanned exponential expansion of Jammu City post-Kashmir migration has resulted in chaotic and catastrophic impacts. The mushrooming of unauthorised colonies came up at every nook and corner. Some of these colonies even encroached on seasonal nallahs. With almost no sanctions, in official data, these colonies don’t exist at all. The net result is that there are no projections and provisions in the year-after-year budget for these colonies, resulting in no proper roads, no drainage, no parks, no markets, or no other amenities in these colonies. Things get further complicated for JMC when the sky is promised by the political class during elections to the public residing in these colonies, but as per law and codal formalities least relief can be provided to these unauthorised urban centres.
But despite all constraints, JMC is devising innovative ways to address all the prevailing issues. Foremost is the upgradation of the existing drainage system, as year after year rains play havoc in and around Jammu City. All drains in Jammu city have been relaid and covered to minimise garbage disposal in these drains. This has the desired result, as more or less choking problems have been solved. Three major nullah upgrades are underway, namely, Rajiv Colony to River Tawi, Pamposh Colony to Channi Ramma, and Jammu Bus Stand nallah upgrade. Additionally, city nallahs from Panjthirthi to Qasim Nagar, Peerkho nallah , Baba Lal ji lane nallah, and other city nallahs are being diverted. This is important in view of upcoming Artificial Lake and Tawi River front projects. City sewage has to be diverted to keep the Tawi River clean downstream.
Solid waste management is another major area of concern. The long-overdue push toward sustainable waste management in Jammu has gained meaningful momentum with the establishment of the 350 MT Integrated Solid Waste Management plant at Kot Bhalwal. The integrated combining material recovery, biogas production, and bio-landfilling-ensures that waste will be handled holistically. Equally commendable is the plan for bioremediation at the Kot Bhalwal site, which aims to detoxify and restore the land that has served as an informal dumping ground for years. This is a major leap towards the sustainable development of Jammu.
Another important aspect is the development and maintenance of green spaces within urban areas. For this purpose, major projects have been undertaken under the National Clean Air Program (NCAP) by JMC. This includes bio-mining/bio-remediation of the balance quantity of legacy waste dumped at Bhagwati Nagar, Jammu; repair/installation of numerous fountains in parks and roundabouts; and construction of a footpath and development of green space along with a canal in Gangyal Ward No. 56, Jammu. Simultaneously, water bodies are being taken care of to rehydrate groundwater and maintain surrounding green spaces. This includes renovation/repairs at Chinore, Greater Kailash, and Patoli. Both these measures have improved the aesthetic sense and visual ambience and, of course, act as fresh air pockets providing relief to thousands of residents of the vicinity.
No remodelling of a city is complete without the upgrading of amenities and infrastructure. JMC has meticulously planned multiple parking lots, community halls, food courts, modern libraries, and shopping complexes across the length and breadth of the city. This includes a parking cum office complex at Jambu Lochan Hall-Karan Nagar, the construction of a library & gymnasium hall at Ambedkar Hall-Krishna Nagar, the modernisation of the SRS Central Library Complex, Kachi Chawni, the construction of a gymnasium/public library at Gandhi Nagar Jammu in place of the existing JMC store, the construction of a commercial complex at Jeevan Nagar, and the development of Gummat Bazaar. All these projects have added parking facilities for overcrowded localities, modern facilities and prime office space for users, modern and spacious banquet halls, better landscape and recreational areas for the localities, provision of modular food courts and sitting areas to increase local participation in future terrace areas, and of course, a sustained revenue stream for JMC.
JMC has taken care of even animals with the construction of a cattle pound at Nagrota and Panj Garain and the modernisation of existing slaughterhouses at Gujjar Nagar and Dogra Hall Jammu along with a common rendering plant at Kot Bhalwal. This slaughterhouse initiative has resulted in a safe and healthy meat supply; modern facilities with environmentally friendly practices will ensure less pollution. Semi-automatic mode of slaughter to ensure kind, painless, and humane slaughter of animals. Effluent treatment plants to take care of sustainable disposal of waste discharge. Specialized vehicles have been deployed to ensure the safe transport of animals and refrigerated vehicles to ensure the sanitary transport of meat.
The busiest, most crowded, and hardest-to-manage place is the Parade area of old Jammu city. JMC plans to construct new shops/commercial spaces along with a parking space for up to 200 vehicles. The plan includes rehabilitation of the existing 88 shopkeepers. The area, right now, is marred greatly by the congestion of traffic and the absence of parking space. Simultaneously, a facelift of the existing Sabzi Mandi is also planned. Construction of MS sheds with CGI sheet roofing, PCC platforms, and tiled paths with interlocked paver tiles will result in the complete transformation of Sabzi Mandi, a neat and clean one giving a different, soothing experience to visitors.
A city without heritage structures is like a body without a soul. Under the Smart City initiative old library building has been undertaken for adaptive reuse into a cafeteria cum library at the Mubarak Mandi Heritage Complex. This is the only building within the Heritage complex to be renovated and completed in addition to the other two buildings restored by ASI. The renovated cafeteria complex provides outdoor seating, a reception and waiting lounge, traditional seating, four dining areas including an open-to-sky area, and a library. This upcoming complex is one of its own kind, with a blend of Jammu’s royal heritage and the best ambiance, providing a massive space for 173 persons in total to dine in the heart of old Jammu City. This is going to be a place of happening in the coming months.
No city facelift is complete without cosmetic changes and lighting arrangements. Providing a Heritage Look at Key locations of Jammu City mega entry gates have been constructed at Apasara Road, Hari Market, City Chowk, Peer Kho, Hari Niwas Palace, and Aap Shambhu Temple-Roop Nagar. Floodlights lit MA Stadium, a waterfall fountain over Tawi Bridge, and a high national flag furling near the Press Club, with majestic Trikuta Hills in the background, providing one of the most cherishable views of Jammu City at night. With the upcoming Tawi Riverfront and Artificial Lake projects, Jammu will get a much-needed major tourism boost.
JMC, along with Jammu Smart City Limited, is gradually transforming Jammu City. The process is ongoing with a lot of scope for further work. Going by the Jammu Master Plan-2032 number of government offices are supposed to be shifted outside from the congested old city. The government must look at the master plan and make necessary policy decisions. Certain newly constructed buildings like Jammu Haat and the new Bus Stand Complex must be put to constructive use. The government can lease the Jammu Haat to the Passport Office or any other office devoid of space. Similarly, the unutilised portion of the new Bus Stand Complex can be used for Civil Secretariat Parking. JMC must focus on encroachments of footpaths, especially in old Jammu City. JMC, police, political class, and the public must work in tandem to resolve this mega encroachment issue.
One must understand that JMC has to cater to almost 240 square kilometres, a vast area with certain recently added areas requiring much attention. JMC is a corporation and, as such, has to develop a sustainable revenue plan. Automation of the monthly sanitation fee is one step. Building more parkings and revenue from open roadside parkings has to be collected to generate much-needed funds. Multiple power centres like DDC, MLAs, corporators, and ministers want the majority of their promised and proposed works to be done, but options and resources for JMC are limited. JMC and Smart City Limited need cooperation along with patience from one and all to make Jammu a Smart City in the real sense. Much has been done, but much more is expected to be done. Step-by-step upgrades and sustainable transformations are happening in Jammu. The process may appear to be slow, but the impact is quite visible, Jammu is inching towards sustainable development.
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