Jammu Smart City Ltd spent only Rs 390.46 Cr out of Rs 940.60 Cr in over 5 years

How to spend remaining Rs 550.14 Cr in just 4 months, questions Jammu Mayor

VIVEK SHARMA

JAMMU: Expressing concern over the delay tactics and lackadaisical approach of the caretakers of Jammu Smart City Project Ltd, Jammu Mayor Rajinder Sharma on Tuesday raised an query as to how the executing agency will spend Rs 550.14 Cr in just last four months when Rs 390.46 Cr were spent on the project during over five years since August 2017.
A total of 940.60 Cr was sanctioned for the Jammu Smart City project (August 2017 –June 2023) to beautify the City. In his maiden meeting after taking over as Jammu Mayor, Rajinder Sharma pointed out the projects lying incomplete because of the slow pace of work.
“Who is responsible for this delay and incompetency?” Jammu Mayor Rajinder Sharma on Tuesday questioned while chairing a City Level Advisory Forum (CLAF) meeting, hld to review the status of projects being executed by the Jammu Smart City Limited (JSCL).
While reviewing the working of the Jammu Smart City Ltd, Mayor Rajinder Sharma was apprised that the project management and consultant company, Rodic Consultants and TPF Studio were disengaged after three years of work.

Mayor hints probe into delay in execution of Jammu Smart City Project

To this, the Mayor asked why this company was engaged in the first instance and then disengaged. This company had been blacklisted by Jammu Power Development Corporation.
“The delay has already wasted a lot of time and money,” Jammu Mayor observed, saying, “An inquiry will be conducted and those found responsible will have to face legal action as well.”
Regarding smart road parking scheme, the Jammu Mayor expressed his displeasure over the project as to why the JMC will get only four per cent profit whileas the contractor will get 96 per cent profit when the road and other infrastructure belongs to the Corporation only.
The delay in the work on Apsara Road has caused immense damage to the local market, the Mayor said and sought detailed explanation in writing from the concerned .
The Jammu Mayor directed the officers to have monthly meetings to review the progress. During the past five years, such review meeting of the Jammu Smart City Project used to take place only once in three months.
Jammu Mayor also questioned as to why the Tourism Department in Jammu doesn’t have password of their social media handle whereas the Srinagar wing of the tourism only upload their projects related to tourist attraction spots.
The Mayor also directed the officers to complete the wall work in Lake Project before the monsoon otherwise there will be major loss to the project.
The Chief Education Officers have been also asked to inform the JMC about the completion of modernization work of the Govt Higher Secondary Schools in their respective jurisdictions, Jammu Mayor Rajinder Sharma said, adding the funds have been allotted through JMC for the upliftment of the government schools.
Regarding conversion equity projects costing Rs 38.66 Cr of various departments,. Jammu Mayor Rajinder Sharma directed to call all the concerned officers in advisory forums so that their working can also be timely reviewed.
Here it is relevant to mention that all these steps under Smart City project are being taken up for the first time.
The meeting was attended by Member of Parliament, Jugal Kishore; Deputy Mayor, JMC, Baldev Singh Billawaria; CEO, JSCL, Rahul Yadav; Additional CEO, JSCL Rakesh Gupta; Technical Sham Lal Kapoor; General Manager Finance, JSCL, Ashish Anand and officials of other concerned departments.
At the outset, CEO, JSCL, Rahul Yadav gave a detailed presentation on the works taken up and completed so far by Jammu Smart City under Smart Cities Mission of Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA).
The chair was informed the 75 projects of worth Rs 1280.84 crore have been completed while the 53 projects are being executed.
It was told in the meeting that the main components of the JSCL are City Beautification, Smart Urban Mobility, Disaster Management, Efficient Green Initiatives and IT Enabled Infrastructure.
“Efforts are being made to complete ambitious projects like Development of Tawi River Front, Integrated Command & Control Center (ICCC) and Street Development Apsara Road in time frame,” CEO JSCL said.
Speaking on the occasion, Mayor emphasised for proper utilisation of funds. He added that the developmental projects under Smart City will usher new era for Jammu City in terms of tourism footfall as well as for employment opportunities.
He added that synergy between all departments crucial for execution of projects in time bound manner.
He asked all the departments to maintain synergy for making Jammu a most developed city. He further directed officials to monthly review meeting.
MP Jugal Kishore lauds JSCL for executing projects in time bound manner. He asked officials to involve all stakeholders for better execution of projects.
Thereafter, valuable suggestions, views and inputs were shared by all the participants. Meanwhile, the participants extended their unending support to JSCL for successful and timely completion of the projects.
Other officials who were present in the meeting Pankaj Magotra Vice Chairman JDA; Dr Shabir Husain, MD, J&K Housing Board, Tilak Raj, DGM J&K Housing Board, Anil K Atri, Wildlife Warden Jammu; Ashwani Kumar Superintended, UEED Engineer Sewerage & Drainage; Sunil Singh, DFO Urban Jammu; Vikrant Sharma, Floriculture Officer Jammu; Rajpal Singh, Additional SP Traffic; Mamta Sharma Deputy Director, Directorate of School Education, Jammu; Dr P R Dhar, JKEDA, S&T CEO; Sunaina Sharma Joint Director Tourism Department; Rajesh Sumbria JC (W), JMC; Rajinder Gupta SE, JPDCL and Rajinder Koul Executive Engineer JDA.