Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 5: Former minister and JKPCC general secretary, Yogesh Sawhney today said that the people of Old Jammu City have been frustrated over the `so called’ Jammu Smart City project.
Sawhney who is former MLA from Jammu East along with his team today toured Ward No. 1, Jammu East, Dhounthly Bazar, Panjtirthi, and Upper Bazar area and interacted with the local shopkeepers and people. The residents apprised Sawhney of their major concerns and issues during the visit, expressing their dissatisfaction with the faulty implementation of the Smart City Project in their area.
These concerns were brought to Sawhney’s notice by Congress president Ward 1, Ram Magotra. After hearing their concerns, Sawhney contacted the CEO, Smart City Project who sent a team of officials to the spot to look into the matter. Sawhney highlighted various issues that were bothering the people in the area and urged the team that the concerns of the residents must be taken into consideration before implementing decisions related to the Smart City Project.
He said that one of the major concerns of the locals was that under the Smart City Project, the administration is constructing a footpath in the ward which has been opposed by them on account that the area is already very congested. The roads that run through the area are very narrow and wide footpaths being constructed on both sides by the administration will reduce the space for traffic movement even further. So, people have outright rejected the construction of the footpath as it is causing a lot of inconvenience to them.
The shopkeepers expressed that they were deeply disappointed with the BJP Government saying that their needs have been consistently ignored and neglected by them. One of the locals said that various decisions and policies of the BJP have impacted their businesses, their kids have had to battle lack of employment opportunities, then there is inflation and the problems keep mounting on top of each other.
Sawhney further stated that since the work for the project has started, it has triggered a series of complaints and issues among the locals. The issues related to replacement of old water pipes, sewerage system etc are being neglected in this programme. Shopkeepers have complained delayed works are hampering their daily activities. Sawhney urged the administration to plan the project to suit the local needs and deviations of the old Jammu city region.
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