The PDP-BJP government has once again allegedly fooled the residents of Jammu as despite laying foundation stone twice by the two Chief Ministers, a multi-storey parking is yet to start at the busy General Bus Stand in the city.
The Rs 201-crore project for the “modernisation of the General Bus Stand-cum-multi-level car parking-cum-commercial complex” was proposed in 2010-11. The foundation stone was laid by the then Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in September 2 last year. But the work never started and once again the city witnessed a same impressive function by the state government of laying the foundation stone after an year on October 16 by Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and ironically the work is yet to start.
The people of the city taking it as a crude joke with them are feeling cheated by both the governments, who have shown them only the dreams of a decongested city, but nothing is being done on the ground.
“This multi-storey parking is just a dream for the people of Jammu and a photo opportunity for various Chief Ministers, who are just trying to the people of the City in the name of development,” said Ravinder Singh, a transporter at the General Bus Stand, Jammu.
“If the government was sincere about the project, it would have been started at the time when Omar Abdullah had laid the foundation stone. What was the need of laying another foundation stone? The CM could have directed the authorities to start the work,” he added.
The people of the city who are eagerly waiting for the multi-storey parking so that the traffic problem in the city can be reduced to some extent are disappointed with the delay by the authorities in starting the work.
However, Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh, who also holds the portfolio of the Housing and Urban Development Department, has set a deadline of two years to complete the project. But the ground situation is telling another story of reluctant attitude of the authorities.
Mubarak Singh, Vice-Chairman Jammu Development Authority (JDA), does not find it necessary to start the work after laying of the foundation.
“It is not necessary that the moment the foundation is laid the work will be started. Some preliminary things are being done. I hope the work will start within a month’s time,” he said.
