*Says project to be considered if fresh loan approved
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, May 6: Notwit-hstanding the repeated directions from the State High Court, the Government is still groping in dark over funds for widening of BC Road and much needed Shakuntla-Ambphalla-Janipur flyover, which otherwise are imperative to decongest major parts of western side of the Jammu city.
Keeping in view increasing volume of traffic, the necessity for Shakuntla-Ambphalla-Janipur flyover and widening of B C Road was felt several years back and in the year 2007-2008, an exercise was initiated for preparation of a project for widening of Ambphalla-Jail and New Plots-Janipur roads and also for consideration of the flyover. However, the exercise was left halfway in the absence of committed source of funding.
Thereafter, no serious thought was ever given towards these important projects despite the fact that these parts of the western side of Jammu city have developed as hub for major official, commercial and residential activities and subsequently led to enormous traffic related problems.
What to talk of development of new residential colonies and business establishments on large scale even numerous Govern-ment offices came up in this part of Jammu city particularly in the Bantalab area and volume of vehicular traffic on the lone road increased considerably.
The Government was brought out of the deep slumber only when Citizens Forum filed a Public Interest Litigation in the High Court highlighting abandoning of Shakuntla Chowk-Ambphalla-Janipur flyover project.
Though the High Court passed numerous directions to the State authorities in the PIL to ascertain the steps being taken for easing out traffic problem in this part of Jammu city, the State Government is still groping in dark over source of funding the B C Road widening and flyover projects.
“As per the decision taken by the Chief Minister in a recently held meeting, flyover project will be proposed for future funding under externally aided projects”, reads the statement of facts filed by Jammu and Kashmir Economic Reconstruction Agency in the High Court, adding “the State Government has already applied for a new loan and a request in this regard has already been sent to the Union Ministry of Finance vide communication dated March 26, 2016″.
“After the loan is agreed to in principle the list of projects to be undertaken under the proposed loan will be finalized by the Governing Body of ERA”, the report further says.
According to the official sources, the ERA has sought 550 million US dollar loan for taking up new projects in different sectors but whether the loan will be sanctioned and what will be the quantum of the same remain million dollar question. “Moreover, it is still not known whether the BC Road widening and Shakun-tla-Ambphalla-Janipur flyover projects would be accepted by the loan sanctioning agency”, they added.
“The agencies fund the projects only after considering several aspects so as to ensure that projects don’t face either delays or spill over of the cost and the chances of both these factors are there in view of habitations and business establishments just along the existing roads”, sources further said, adding “in this way the State Government is still groping in dark over source of funding”.
They further said: “Though Roads and Buildings Department too can take up the project in hand but in view of limited funding under State sector the chances of the same are bleak. Moreover, these projects have not been projected under any Central scheme till date”.
A Division Bench of the State High Court comprising Chief Justice N Paul Vasanthakumar and Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur, which was hearing the PIL today, took serious note of the traffic congestion in western side of Jammu city.
“It needs to be highlighted that Judges have themselves seen that the entire stretch of road especially from Ambphalla to High Court is perhaps the most pathetic in terms of traffic congestion and density”, the DB said, adding “it is due to chaotic traffic scenario that in covering this short distance a lot of time is consumed”.
Referring to the statement of facts submitted by the ERA, the DB directed Secretary Finance to file an affidavit to show as to whether, while making a loan proposal, as contained in the communication to the Union Finance Ministry any specific proposal in regard to widening of roads and flyover has been made.
The DB further directed ERA to clarify as to in what manner it proposes to deal with the traffic problems in Jammu city—is it by way of widening of roads, consideration of flyover, or by plying mono-rail or any other method.
“Keeping in view the importance of road widening and flyover, the Union Ministry of Finance through its Secretary is impleaded as party respondent in the PIL”, the DB said.
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