SRINAGAR: The Fruit Mandi Plaza in Narwal, constructed under the Jammu Smart City Project by the R&B Department, has been completed for over six months but is still awaiting inauguration by a high-profile or VIP figure, The Daily Excelsior reported.
The project, which commenced in June 2022 and concluded in February 2023 for Rs 9.25 crores, involved upgrading existing sheds, and constructing canteens, toilets complex, kiosks, and parking facilities.
“It is surprising that the complex, finished more than six months ago, is yet to be inaugurated for reasons known to the officials of Jammu Smart City, who are fully responsible for its inauguration,” said Sameer Gupta, a fruit trader in the Narwal Mandi are, while speaking to The Daily Excelsior.
“Due to the delay in the inauguration, numerous fruit and vegetable sellers are compelled to sell their produce in the open area, resulting in significant losses for the trading community in the Narwal area,” he added.
Deputy Director of Horticulture Department, Planning and Marketing, Ayaz Ahmed Natnu, stated, “Since the project was constructed by the R&B Department under the direct supervision of Jammu Smart City Project, it is completed, but they are still waiting to get its handover by the officers of Jammu Smart City.”
On the delay in inauguration, he remarked, “We are unable to understand why they are delaying its inauguration when it has been completed some months before.”
CEO of Jammu Smart City, Rahul Yadav, clarified, “We are the funding agency, while the entire project was completed by the R&B Department, responsible for the construction work. They completed the work on time, and now we have handed it over to the Horticulture Department.”
“It is fully completed and ready for inauguration. Initially, we planned to have it inaugurated by the Union Home Minister, Amit Shah, who was scheduled to visit Jammu on Tuesday, but his visit was deferred due to prevailing inclement weather conditions and forecast in Jammu. Now, we are trying to get dates from the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, Manoj Sinha, who will inaugurate this complex in Jammu.”
“As soon as we get the final dates from the LG office, we will inaugurate this complex so that the fruit and vegetable sellers, forced to operate in the open, can benefit from this complex,” he added.
