Onlykashmir.in News Desk
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for a series of key development projects worth over ₹60 crore in the Housing and Urban Development sector across Jammu city and adjoining areas, reaffirming his Government’s commitment to building sustainable, inclusive and people-centric urban infrastructure across Jammu and Kashmir.
The projects included the laying of foundation stones for works worth over ₹28 crore and the inauguration of completed works valued at around ₹32 crore, reflecting the Government’s sustained focus on strengthening urban infrastructure, promoting sustainable mobility, conserving heritage and enhancing civic amenities across the region.
Among the foundation stones laid, the Chief Minister launched the Depot for 100 Electric Buses under the PM e-Bus Sewa Scheme at Bhagwati Nagar, being executed by Jammu Smart City Limited at a cost of ₹23.04 crore, which will provide the necessary infrastructure for operating and maintaining an electric bus fleet in the city. He also laid the e-foundation stone for the Rejuvenation and Restoration of the Flowing Nallah at Tan Talab Kundarorian in Katra, a ₹5.14 crore project aimed at improving the ecological health of the water channel and enhancing sanitation in the pilgrimage town.
Among the projects inaugurated, the Chief Minister dedicated Tawi Wonderland, a Waste-to-Wonder Park developed at a cost of ₹11 crore under the Smart City Mission, which transforms discarded materials into artistic installations and recreational spaces and will be operated under a public-private partnership model for ten years. He also inaugurated the Heritage Trail and Site Beautification Project, developed at ₹15.74 crore, the Modernisation of Food Street at Bahu Fort, completed at ₹1.65 crore, and the Shopping-cum-Municipal Complex at Akhnoor, constructed at ₹3.61 crore.
Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister said the Waste-to-Wonder Park on the banks of the River Tawi has the potential to emerge as a major tourist attraction, adding that he had not fully realised the scale of the project until visiting it. He said politics may witness periods of uncertainty, but development work must never suffer, asserting that the Government belongs to every region and citizen and would continue to prioritise riverfront development and transformative urban initiatives across the Union Territory.
Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary and several senior officials were present on the occasion.
