In a major initiative to promote tourism and reconnect people with the Tawi riverfront, the first-ever Tawi Boating Festival was inaugurated on Wednesday at the Artificial Lake developed under the Jammu Smart City project.
The festival was inaugurated by Divisional Commissioner Jammu, Ramesh Kumar and MLA Jammu East, Yudhvir Sethi in the presence of Deputy Commissioner Jammu, Dr Rakesh Minhas, Jammu Municipal Corporation Commissioner and CEO, Jammu Smart City Limited, Dr Devansh Yadav and officials of Jammu Smart City Limited (JSCL) and the Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC).
The two-day festival, being held on Wednesday and Thursday, marks the formal beginning of boating activities in the heart of Jammu city. The event is open to the public free of cost from 3:30 pm to 6:30 pm, allowing residents to experience the newly developed riverfront up close.
Residents turned up in large numbers on the opening day, describing the initiative as a historic moment for Jammu and a long-awaited recreational attraction for both locals and visitors. Addressing the gathering, MLA Jammu East, Yudhvir Sethi, termed the initiative a historic step for Jammu, saying the boating facility would emerge as a major attraction and significantly boost tourism and economic activity in the region.
Divisional Commissioner Jammu, Ramesh Kumar, said the riverfront development under the Smart City initiative would provide a new recreational space for residents and help attract tourists to the city. Speaking on the occasion, Jammu Municipal Corporation Commissioner and CEO, Jammu Smart City Limited, Dr Devansh Yadav, said the festival is aimed to introduce residents to the newly developed artificial lake and assess the feasibility of regular boating operations.
“Suryaputri Tawi has been the centre of Jammu’s devotion and with this project it will become the centre of tourism also in Jammu city” Dr Yadav said. He added that State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams have been deployed with life jackets, rescue boats along the stretch to ensure safety of the visitors and as per the standard operating procedures.
Jammu Municipal Corporation will invite tenders to engage local tourism entrepreneurs for running boating & other water sports activities at river front from March, 2026 onwards, he added. To enhance the festive ambience, the riverbank has been illuminated with decorative lighting.
Local bands and stalls offering traditional Dogra cuisine are other major attractions of the event. The riverfront project, developed under the Smart Cities Mission on the lines of the Sabarmati Riverfront in Gujarat has been executed at a cost of around ₹180 crore. Additional CEO, Jammu Smart City Limited, Subha Mehta and other officials from JSCL and JMC were also present on the occasion.