| 14 years on, Convention Centre Jammu still a distant dream | | | Akshay Azad
Jammu, Feb 22: The ill planning and casual approach of Hospitality and Protocol department can be gauged from the condition of under-construction Convention Centre Jammu, which is still under construction after the lapse of around 14 years, and the project cost has doubled its original cost.
Sources informed Early Times that on the pattern of Sher-e-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC) at Srinagar, the Government had conceived to construct a Convention Centre in Jammu. "The construction work was started in the year 1999, on the piece of land just adjacent to Government Guest House Canal Road Jammu, but after lapse of 14 years, the project is still a dream," they said.
"When the project was mooted, the original cost of project was Rs. 12.21 crores and the project was to be completed in three years, i.e in year 2003, but amazingly, despite adequate funding for the first three years, the project lingered on and after spending of around 94 percent of funds (Rs 11.45 crores) only 60 percent works were completed till year 2009," sources said.
They further said that, the company M/s Ganga Contracts and Projects Pvt Limited, which was executing the electrical works, had abandoned the work halfway in year 2002, due to non-payment of funds. "Astonishingly, after waiting for around seven years, in the year 2009 the Hospitality and Protocol department cancelled the tender of Ganga Projects, and re-allotted the project to SICOP, which speaks volumes of careless attitude of department," sources said.
"Taking into account the current rates of construction material, labour for executing the left over works, it was decided to prepare a revised Detailed Project Report by department," sources said, adding that as per revised DPR the fresh cost has been estimated to the tune of Rs 24. 80 Crores.
The DPR had been submitted to the Finance and Planning Departments for getting financial concurrence and an amount of Rs 2 crore was released by the Planning & Development Department for execution of works under the project during the current year. "But if the work will go on the same pace, the Convention Center Jammu will see daylight, only in coming few years," they rued. |
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