Early Times Report
Jammu, July 22: Finally the work on ambitious 6-storey mega multi-level parking complex at the existing General Bus Stand, Jammu got started and the authorities cleared the General Bus Stand of the idle parked vehicles till late afternoonon Friday
According to an official, in order to implement the multi-storey General Bus Stand Parking Plan, the government and the JDA authorities have come into action. Recently Divisional Commissioner, Dr Pawan Kotwal chaired a meeting over the same issue on Thursday following which the evacuation process has been started since Thursday and the zero occupancy was reached here today.
Sharing details of deliberations of said high level, the official said, "The orders have been given to shift Inter-state buses from Haryana, Punjab and other states to Inter State Bus Terminal (ISBT), Narwal.
"On Thursday, District Commissioner Simrandeep Singh, Vice Chairman (JDA) Mubarak Singh, SSP Dr Sunil Gupta, SSP Traffic Uday Bhaskar Billa, RTO Ashwin Khajuria, ARTO Saleem Khan and other members reached to the General Bus Stand to make sure the evacuation is done properly without any further delay, official . He said that the authorities have called upon the transporters and shop owners to make them aware that the construction work for the General Bus Stand is likely to be started soon.
"In order to make sure that the construction work is started on time, they are shifting buses and other vehicles to a different place, he said, adding," the entrance to the bus stand has been closed down by the security forces."
"At the same time Vice Chairman (JDA) Mubarak Singh has requested the transporters and shop-owners to cooperate in the development agenda so that this delayed project can be started and completed within already set time-frame, official added.
Official added that the shopkeepers near the General Bus Stand will be shifted to Transport Nagar, Narwal. In the first phase, shop numbers 24, 25 and 26 will be moved to Narwal. "Besides, there are about 300 shops near the bus stand area which are rented by the shop owners and are likely to be shifted, he said, adding, "status quo assures that the conceived project of multi-storey parking facility can be seen on grounds soon.
Pertinently the ambitious project coming up at an estimated cost of Rs 201.68 crore is aimed to reduce the traffic congestion and provide adequate parking space for the vehicles in the heart of Jammu city.
The ground floor of the building would provide parking space for about 80 buses. The first, second and third floors would have a capacity to accommodate 1,312 cars, while the fourth and fifth floors would house shopping malls, food courts, restaurants and washrooms, besides having an air-conditioned ticket booking office and waiting hall.
If recalled Mufti Mohammad Sayeed had laid the foundation stone of this project for the second time on October 16, 2015. Earlier, former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, in a similar function, had laid foundation of same project on September 2, 2014 but the project failed to see the light till today. |
