Deputy Chief Minister, Nirmal Singh today said the government has targeted to develop Old areas of Jammu as heritage city through a string of projects initiated for traffic decongestion, sanitation and cleanliness.He was speaking at a function organized in connection with the disbursement of old age and other pension cheques to beneficiaries of East Jammu areas. Dr Singh said numerous upcoming and completed multi-storey parking projects around historical old city are path-breaking steps towards restoring its pristine glory. He said these projects including upcoming ambitious general bus stand multi-facility centre, already completed project at City Chowk and one each parking projects proposed at Panjthirthi and on circular road aim at to give new look to heritage bazaars like Kanak Mandi, Purani Mandi, Ragunath Bazaar and other adjoining areas.Describing it as business centre of the region, he said Jammu city acted as abode of peace for centuries by conserving the ethos of brotherhood and communal harmony.“This city has a legacy of splendid political, social and economic history and the present government is endeavoring to elevate its stature to the deserving level. This is being done through showcasing rich heritage and at the same time developing it as a modern A class city” the Dy CM asserted.
Dy CM said the target is to divert over one crore visitors coming every year to pay obeisance at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine to the Jammu city.Projects like Tawi River Development Front, development of heritage sites including Mubarak Mandi Royal Complex, construction of rope way project across River Tawi upto Mahamaya Temple provide all ingredients for projection of Jammu on global level, he said.He said ground work for starting the Tawi river front development project is full swing. “All technical and safety and flood protection issues are being included in the Detailed Project Report (DPR) to ensure that it may not face the fate of many past projects which have been left halfway” Dy CM informed. He said the geological survey has already been completed and the work on the project would be started soon after formulation of the DPR and completing other ground works.On the occasion, the Dy CM gave away pension and other assistance cheques to over 170 beneficiaries hailing from different parts of old city.The Member Legislative Assembly (MLA) Jammu East Rajesh Gupta also spoke on the occasion and reiterated the resolve of the state government to effectively implement the Welfare and social security schemes launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for poverty elevation, empowerment of weaker sections through financial inclusion schemes and cleanliness and hygiene to realize the varied goals till 2022.