What was once envisioned as a green retreat for citizens and a leisure spot for tourists has today turned into an ordeal for the very people who live around it. The Bhagwati Nagar Amusement Park, spread over 30 kanals of prime land and built at a cost of crores of taxpayers’ money, lies in total shambles. Instead of children’s laughter and family outings, the place now echoes with the menace of drunkards, drug addicts, and anti-social elements who have made it their haven. For the local residents, what could have been a pride of the city has become an ordeal. The park was completed just a few years ago. Its very conception was to provide Jammu a breathing space similar to renowned attractions like Chandigarh’s Rose Garden or Pinjore Garden. Yet, the Tourism Department, responsible for its upkeep, outsourced it without any meaningful on-ground monitoring. The result is visible in broken toilets, stolen fittings, vanished greenery, missing coolers, and shattered infrastructure.
This neglect is not just an administrative lapse but a betrayal of public trust. Projects of such magnitude, executed with public funds, cannot be allowed to die a slow death merely because officials lack vision and accountability. Crores of rupees have effectively gone down the drain, and instead of an amusement park, the city has been left with a den of lawlessness. The safety concerns of residents, particularly women and children, highlight how misplaced priorities in governance can directly affect daily lives.
The larger question is of accountability. Why was the park abandoned so soon after construction? Why were tenders for renovation worth Rs 2.5 crore shelved without explanation? And most importantly, why is there no mechanism to ensure the survival and success of such projects after they are inaugurated with fanfare? The Government must act urgently. Alternatives like the public-private partnership mode or handing over management to departments like Floriculture or the Jammu Municipal Corporation should be explored. A park of this size and location can be turned into a vibrant urban green space, but only if maintained with seriousness and vision. It is a grim reminder that public projects cannot be left to decay at the hands of indifference.
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