Multi-storey parking hits concrete plant hurdle.

Shopkeepers' continuing protest and delay in setting up of a concrete batching plant for the construction of a multi-storey parking at the general bus stand, Jammu, by the executing agency have slowed down the work on the Rs. 200-crore ambitious project to give the city its first modern parking space.

Already behind the schedule by several months, officials said the delay in the setting up of the concrete plant and allied infrastructure at Sidhra was also pushing up the execution costs. The plant will provide concrete and will have separate testing facilities to ensure quality of material used for the project.

The project executed by the Jammu Development Authority (JDA) is a part of the urban development project aimed to end the congestion at the bus stand, one of the busiest spots in the temple city.

“The land was provided for the plant several months back but the executing agency is yet make it operational. It will take some weeks before the site will start supplying material and necessary support,” said a senior JDA official.

However, Superintendent Engineer Ashok Kapoor said the plant would be made functional by the end of this month. “There was some delay but big projects need a lot of planning. There was also issues with the shopkeepers but that will now be sorted out”, Kapoor said.

Recently, shopkeepers had forcibly stopped the construction of a wall near the site as they alleged that it would hinder their trade. They are demanding the work should be put off till April, when the civil secretariat will shift to Srinagar.

The bus stand was inaugurated in 1971 and most of the shopkeepers were allotted space then only. Under the plan, the JDA has decided to create a multi-storey parking lot which will also have shopping complex. Some of the traders will be shifted to inter-state bus terminal at Narwal.

THE TRIBUNE