The Deputy Chief Minister, Dr Nirmal Singh today directed the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) to ensure adequate revenue realization, by way of rent collection, from its assets to create new assets.The Deputy Chief Minister was addressing officers during a meeting convened here this morning in connection with the taking possession of two commercial complexes by SMC at Jehangir Chowk and Rambagh. Comprising 306 shops, these shopping complexes have been constructed Jammu and Kashmir Economic Reconstruction Agency (JKERA) for the rehabilitation of shopkeepers dislocated by the construction of Jehangir Chowk-Rambagh fly-over.Chief Executive Officer, JKERA, Vinod Sharma handed over possession of the complexes at Jehangir Chowk and Rambagh to Commissioner, SMC, Bashir Ahmad Khan. Chief Engineer, J&K ERA Kashmir, Er Malik Basharat Ahmad and other senior officers of JKERA and SMC were also present.
The Deputy Chief Minister directed the officers to ensure that the leftover shops be given to the aspiring shopkeepers in a transparent manner besides also working out the modalities of rent etc. These Commercial Complexes have been constructed by ERA at a cost of Rs 100 crore for rehabilitation of the shopkeepers falling in the corridor of Jehangir Chowk-Rambagh Bridge fly-over. It was also given out that shopping complex at Jehangir Chowk comprises 152 shops with a built up area of 142000 sft for commercial and office spaces. It has also a basement parking facility.Similarly, the Commercial Complex at Rambagh, comprises 153 shops with a built-up area of 104000 sft. Most of the shopkeepers affected by the flyover have been accommodated in these complexes except for few leftover cases.It was also given out in the meeting that SMC will be owner of these two complexes and draw the rental agreements and charge monthly rent from tenants, allottees of these complexes. It will also be responsible for the upkeep of these complexes.The uncommitted shops in these complexes shall be allotted by a committee constituted for the purpose which comprises of Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir as its Chairman, Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar, Commissioner, Srinagar Municipal Corporation and Chief Engineer PW (R&B) Department Kashmir as its members, it was told.