LG Murmu launches long-awaited Jammu ropeway, 53 more projects

JAMMU: The much-awaited Jammu ropeway project, aimed at boosting tourism in the winter capital of the Union territory, has been launched by Lieutenant Governor G C Murmu on Monday that has brought a smile on the faces of the people of Jammu.
The LG also inaugurated 53 other projects including 49 projects of Power Development Department worth Rs 81 Crore in 8 districts, 4 projects of JK Agro Industries Development Corporation and Horticulture (P&M) Department, besides laying foundation stone of 7 new Sub Stations at a cost of Rs 98.45 Crore and inaugurating PG Girls Hostel, Residential block and Bed-side Oxygen Facility at Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Jammu.
Planned back in 1995, the Jammu ropeway project faced dozens of delays in its start, execution and date of completion but the people of Jammu feel are now happy that a prestigious project has seen the light of day after 25 years.
L-G Murmu and the first lady Smita Murmu inaugurated the much-delayed project and took the first ride on the ropeway along with top officials. Murmu said the project would go a long way in promoting tourism in Jammu region, giving a fillip to the local economy by creating jobs.
He said the project is of great importance and is going to be the biggest tourist attraction (in Jammu) in the coming days. "It was following a personal intervention by the L-G that the project has been thrown open to the general public and tourists today. The L-G had directed us to complete the work and make it operational," an official said.
On spot directions were issued by the Lt Governor to keep the service free for general public for first 15 days of operation. He also called for constructing a gaming zone for kids and keeping special concessional rates for students and senior citizens.
Initially, the project was to be operated from Bahu Fort to Mubarak Mandi Complex when it was proposed back in 1995. It was modified and the route relocated when both places were declared protected monuments.
The officials said the cable car corporation successfully conducted the trial run of the first phase of the project in April last year.
The 1.66-km-long cable car project has two phases, first from Bahu Fort to Mahamaya Park and second from Mahamaya to Peer Kho over the Tawi river, with a total length of 1,118 metres.
The cable car project would provide people a high-quality tourism experience with transportation facility, sightseeing and entertainment, they said.
The ropeway from Bahu Fort to Mahamaya has eight cabins and from Mahamaya to Peer Kho 14 cabins and the total number of towers in section one (Peer Kho to Mahamaya) and section two (Bahu Fort to Mahamaya) are nine and the critical components are all imported.
With regard to safety of the project, all standard operating procedures have been adopted as per international standards, they added.
They said the estimated cost of the project is Rs 75 crore, out of which 95 per cent of the total cost has been incurred so far.
"We are very happy that this project has seen light of day after 25 years after its beginning. Thanks to Murmu sahib that the prestigious project has been launched today", said Ravinder Singh, a Bahu Fort resident.
Meanwhile, Murmu dedicated to public 49 infrastructure development projects of Power Development Department executed under various Centrally Sponsored Schemes like DDUGJY, IPDS, PMDP Urban & PMDP Rural.
The inaugurated projects primarily included capacity addition at 33/11 KV level by way of construction of new 33/11 KV Sub Stations, Capacity enhancement of existing 33/11 KV sub stations either by way of installation of additional power transformers or by augmentation of existing Power transformer.
In the beginning, the Lt Governor dedicated to public the Underground Cabling work at Patnitop tourist spot. The e-inauguration of the project was done from Raj Bhawan and simultaneously at Patnitop in presence of Deputy Commissioner Udhampur, officers of District Administration and JPDCL, the executing agency of the project. The work was executed at a cost of Rs 12.58 Cr under PMDP Rural project which included augmentation of existing 33/11 KVA sub station Patnitop from 3.15 to 6.3 MVA thereby increasing its capacity by 3.15 MVA, Conversion of Overhead 11 KV & LT network to underground cabling at tourist spot, installation of latest technology Ring Main Units for 11 KV network for reliable power supply, Installation of package Sub Stations & LT Feeder Pillars for providing service connections to consumers.
The project shall improve the power supply to the installations at Patnitop tourist spot like Govt establishments, Hotels, PDA, MES, VIP Park, Main Meadow Park, Pandora chowk and children park etc. It shall also provide reliable Power Supply to the consumers during all weather conditions specially in winters when the area is snow bound.
Overall 49 completed projects were inaugurated at the cost of Rs 81.15 Cr.There shall be a capacity addition of 250 MW and improved power supply to 31000 Domestic, Commercial consumers, 300 Industrial Units, 40 villages, 200 commercial hotels, 60 government establishments and various tourist Spots. The Projects, for which foundation stone was laid today, shall be completed over a period of six months.
Then, the LG e -inaugurated four projects of Jammu and Kashmir Agro Industries Development Corporation and Horticulture Planning & Marketing department.
In Horticulture Planning & Marketing department, three projects were e-inaugurated: e- National Agriculture Market (e-NAM) for Fruit &Vegetable Market Narwal, Jammu , Fruit & Vegetable Market, Bishnah and Apni Mandi Chadwal, Kathua .The e-NAM provides a hassle free and pan-India trade platform for the farmers and the traders. It provides uniformity across the integrated markets, transparent auctioning process, real time price discovery based on actual demand and supply, with availability of better quality of fruits and vegetables and other agriculture produce ensuring proper returns to the farmers. The project is funded by the Government of India while Narwal mandi is the second of its kind inaugurated after Parimpora Mandi, Srinagar
The newly established fruit and vegetable market at Bishnah, spanning an area of around 20 kanals, shall provide better marketing facility for farmers/growers and the traders of the area by facilitating the local farmers and traders for marketing and selling their produce at a centralized location. This market has been built at a project cost of Rs 221.52lacs. Similarly, the Apni Mandi Chadwal, Kathua, provides centralized market access facility to the farmers and traders of the surrounding areas. Against the project cost of Rs. 99.90lacs , an amount of Rs 65.47lacs has already been spent till March 2020. The infrastructure constructed till date includes the auction platform and administrative block besides boundary fencing and space for shop sites for the traders/farmers.
The Lt Governor also laid the e-foundation stone of 5000 MT capacity climate control storage plant to be built in Agriculture complex Talab Tillo Jammu at a cost of Rs 23 Cr spreading over 10 Kanals. The project will have 21 Cold rooms and four Ripening Rooms with a total capacity of 5000 MTs. The proposed plant would also have a solar power facility to reduce costs in the long run and a latest system of temp management for chilled and frozen storage of wide range of vegetables and fruits. The plant will have ripening facility for safe ripening of fruits and vegetables and backup power facility being provided by solar panels. As this is the first plant of such capacity coming up in public sector, this would facilitate the farmers of Jammu and adjoining districts where they will benefit getting the cold storage facility at economic rates.
Meanwhile, Lieutenant Governor, Chancellor of SKUAST-Jammu visited the Main University campus at Chatha today and inaugurated the new infrastructural blocks including building of Ujala PG Girls Hostel, Residential Quarters for Teaching staff and a Bed side Oxygen facility established at the University Health Centre in view of Covid-19 Pandemic.
The First Lady went around the newly constructed Girls Hostel and inspected facilities therein, followed by planting of a sapling in the lawn of the PG Girls Hostel.
In his address, the Lieutenant Governor appreciated the efforts of the University for creating new infrastructure facilities at Chatha campus. He further advised for strengthening University’s internet and intranet facilities for smooth adoption of virtual learning to negate the effect of COVID-19 on education. He called for establishment of area specific Food Processing Zones in J&K and advised the university to draft an organic farming policy for boosting organic production in the UT.
The Lt Governor outlined the need for seamless and sustained transfer of applied research, tangible strategies and solutions to the farming community for facilitating the rapid growth in the agriculture and its allied sectors for improving per hectare productivity in the region and bringing it at par with the national standards. He also called for evolving an Organic Farming Policy and emphasised on the role of diversification through underutilized fruit crops, medicinal and aromatic plants, bamboo and alternative agriculture for increasing the productivity and profitability of farmers of the Kandi areas of Jammu region.
An exhibition was also organised during the visit of the Lt Governor, depicting the University released varieties, integrated farming system model, Nano Bio Char, tissue culture raised true to type quality planting material, compressed tannin enriched multi-nutrient feed blocks etc. Agri-entrepreneurs / SHGs promoted by KVKs also display their products such as milk-cake, organic honey, lemon grass oil and bamboo craft.