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Amit Khajuria
Tribune News Service
Jammu, May 14
The much-hyped Panjtirthi multi-storeyed parking project is all set to pass into oblivion as its tenders have been cancelled notwithstanding the foundation stones of the project having been laid thrice by three Chief Ministers.
According to sources, the Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) had cancelled the tenders of the project after it found during the soil testing that the land demarcated for the project was ‘not viable’ for a multi-storeyed building.
Despite having pre-approved funds of Rs 20 crore since 2015, the civic body failed to commence the work on the project for four years.
The civic body claimed that it would again opt for soil testing and do soil treatment so that a multi-storeyed building could be constructed on the land.
“During the course of soil testing, the land was found ‘not viable’ for a multi-storeyed building so the tenders for the construction were cancelled. We are now approaching the agencies concerned for soil testing and treatment to make it feasible,” said Jaspal Singh, Joint Commissioner (Works), JMC.
He said dumping of debris for years had made the land unusable for bearing the load of a multi-storeyed building.
The move has raised a big question mark on the working of the civic body. It is not clear whether it did soil testing before inviting three successive Chief Ministers to lay the foundation stones of the project.
Interestingly, the three CMs had laid the foundation of the same project during their respective tenures.
In July 2017, former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti had laid the foundation stone of the project. Mehbooba’s father and former Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed had also done so in October 2015 after approving Rs 20 crore for the project.
Earlier, former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had laid the stone of the same project on September 2, 2014.
The project was proposed to have the parking capacity of 360 vehicles and it was expected to be completed within 12 months when the stone was laid in 2014.
The Panjtirthi area that lies in the centre of the Old City area has been facing a major parking problem due to the rise in the number of vehicles, mostly four-wheelers. The project would cater to the needs of the people living in Pacci Dhakki, Jain Bazaar, Pacca Danga, Chogan Salathia, Dhounthly Bazaar.
Pertinently, Jammu, the winter capital city, has been grappling with traffic chaos due to the non-availability of parking lots. Nearly 40,000 vehicles are registered in Jammu each year.
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