Rotaries in Jammu City yet to beautify under Smart City project
Despite spending crores the rotaries in the city of Temples are yet to be beautified completely as out of total 19 identified locations, only 3 have operational fountains adding colours to the beautification mission under Jammu Smart City Project.
“Under the Smart City, the work of reforming the rotaries at various squares and intersections in the city is being done on a war footing, but the fountains installed are yet to be made fully functional,” sources said.
Sources revealed that out of 19 fountains, only 3 are functional, adding, “an amount of Rs.2.5 crores is sanctioned for the beautification of rotaries.”
Notably, the Jammu Municipal Corporation had claimed to make all the fountains functional and beautification of rotaries completed by Diwali in 2021.
“Surprisingly, the fountains do not have water connection to make them functional completely for which the Jammu Municipal Corporation has intensified its efforts to achieve the goal,” they added.
“The work of beautifying the rotaries is being carried on war footing and expected to be completed before the Amarnath Yatra starting from June 30 to welcome the pilgrims with a message of beautiful and illuminating City of Temples,” sources said.
Under Smart City, sources said that the Jammu Municipal Corporation has installed fountains and made rotaries at 19 places across the city, adding, “the project was divided into two phases. In the first phase, installation of 15 new fountains and repair of four old ones was to be done at a cost of Rs.1.57 crore.”
At the same time, they said that Rs.0.92 crore was spent in the second phase.
“In August last year, fountain trials were conducted at the entrance of the city, Kunjwani, Greater Kailash Chowk and Bikram Chowk but since then, the fountains have not been made functional even after a lapse of around nine months.”
The installation of fountains in Kunjwani, Satwari, Dogra Chowk, Jammu University Chowk, Panama Chowk, Mian Dido Chowk, Bikram Chowk, Gujjar Nagar Chowk etc. is almost completed but because of missing water connections, they are still waiting for its start, sources said.
“Amarnath Yatra is on cards and it is our endeavor to beautify all the Rotaries in the city and make it functional with colourful water fountains,” a JMC official added.
He said that work on lighting the Tawi bridges is also expected to be completed by the stipulated deadline, adding “we ensure that the pilgrims this time will see a different Jammu and they will carry along happy memories along to their respective places with smiles on their faces.”
