Old Jammu to be developed as heritage city: J-K deputy CM

Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh today said the government will develop old areas of Jammu as heritage city through a string of projects initiated for traffic decongestion, sanitation and cleanliness.
Addressing a function organised in connection with the disbursement of old age and other pension cheques to the beneficiaries of East Jammu areas here, the BJP leader 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.
"This city (Jammu) has a legacy of splendid political, social andeconomic 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 class city," Singh said.

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 to give a new look to heritage bazaars like Kanak Mandi, Purani Mandi, Ragunath Bazaar and other adjoining areas.
Singh said the ground work for starting the Tawi river front development project is on a 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," he said.

Singh said the geological survey has already been completed and the work on the project would be started soon afterthe formulation of the DPR and completing other ground works.
On the occasion, the deputy chief minister gave away pension and other assistance cheques to over 170 beneficiaries hailing from different parts of the old city.