Unique Gift to Jammu: Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri inaugurates vertical garden in City

TNN Bureau. Updated: 10/14/2021 12:27:02 AM Jammu and Kashmir

Jammu: Union Minister for Housing & Urban Affairs & Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Hardeep Singh Puri on Wednesday inaugurated Vertical Garden in Jammu under the flyover at B. C. Road, which adds fascinating looks to the city and makes it environment friendly.
On the auspicious occasion of Maha Ashtami, the Jammu Smart City Limited (JSCL) dedicated this gift to the people of Jammu.

With the ongoing development work under the Smart City Project, the Jammu Vertical Garden is made on the pillars of the flyover from Dogra Chowk to K. C Chowk. And this unique garden along with water curtains has completely changed the outlook of the area usually witnesses the flow of the tourists and pilgrims of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi.

The Union Minister was accompanied by Hon’ble Mayor Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) Sh. Chander Mohan Gupta, Hon’ble Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha Sh. Jugal Kishore, Hon’ble Mayor Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) Sh. Chander Mohan Gupta and Joint Secretary, Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) Sh. Pankaj Kumar Singh.

Commissioner Secretary to Govt, Housing and Urban Development Department
(HUDD), Dheeraj Gupta, IAS, Deputy Commissioner, Jammu, Anshul Garg, IAS, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Jammu Smart City Limited (JSCL) and Commissioner, Jammu Municipal Cooperation (JMC), Ms. Avny Lavasa, IAS, Additional Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Jammu Smart City Limited (JSCL), Sh. Hitesh Gupta, KAS and Team leader, Project Management Consultancy (PMC), Pushpendra Shrivastav were also present on the occasion.

On the arrival, Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri was briefed by Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Jammu Smart City Limited (JSCL) Ms. Avny Lavasa.

Speaking on the occasion, Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said that the government led by Hon’ble Prime Minister Sh. Narendra Modi is committed for the development of Jammu and Kashmir.

Many schemes are being implemented by Ministry for Housing & Urban Affairs & Minister and smart city is one of them.
“I am happy that the few projects have been completed and more projects are coming within 18 months,” he said.
He added that the centre government will provide all possible assistance for schemes like Smart Cities, Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) and Swachh Bharat.

Mayor, JMC Chander Mohan Gupta said the inauguration vertical garden will bring the Jammu City at par with other metro cities across India. “The first of kind vertical garden will add charm to the beauty of city of temples,” he said.

He added that the JMC committed for the development of city and more projects will be implemented to change the overall look of city.

Hon’ble Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha Sh. Jugal Kishore said that the government is committed for the welfare of people. He expressed gratitude to Commissioner Secretary Housing & Urban Affairs Department Dheeraj Gupta, CEO JSCL Avny Lavasa and Deputy Commissioner Anshul Garg.

“With the completion of this project, the Jammu City is also being nominated among top cities of the country,” he observed.

Speaking on the CEO, JSCL, Ms. Avny Lavasa informed that many projects related to urban mobility and infrastructure are coming under Jammu Smart City in few months.

“The upcoming projects will also address, urban problems like parking, encouraging cycling among citizens, IT related and many others, she said.

She also informed that the upcoming projects will bring a neat and clean look to the city.

This unique project, the first of its kind in the Union Territory of J&K, is appreciated by people from all walks of life. The vertical garden will not only attract visitors but it will also help to maintain the ecological balance in the city.

The project will add greenery along with mesmerising looks to city. It will also be an attraction for the visitors and spread environment awareness among them. The vertical garden will also help in controlling air pollution. Earlier people use to throw garbage here but now this place is clean as well as green and attracting attention of everyone.

This hanging garden is looking very beautiful and attracting passers-by as 12 different species of plants are grown in the vertical garden.

Under the project, plants of 12 different species are planted vertically on the 50 pillars of flyovers between, Dogra Chowk and K C Chowk at B. C. Road, Jammu.
The 12 different plant species included Schefflera Arboricola, Epipremnum Aureum, Syngonium Podophyllum, Dianella Tasmanica Variegata, Ophiopogon japonicus ‘Variegated’, Chlorophytum Comosum, Setcreasea Purpurea, Pilea Microphylia, Roheo Spathacea, polystichummunitum-Sword Fern, Tradescantia Zebrina and Asparagus Densiflorus Sprengeri.

The project also included, water curtains, a drip irrigation system, 2 bore well, four underground water tanks with the capacity of 5200 litres each, and two arched gates
The project worth Rs 380.44 Lacs was executed by Jammu Smart City Limited (JSCL) and Project Management Consultancy (PMC). The project executing agency also tasked to maintain the garden for three years.

The work on the project was started in August 2020 and completed within a stipulated time frame of 10 months.

The capital cities Jammu and Srinagar have been chosen under Smart City Projects and various initiatives being taken by the authorities under the Smart City Project as the city is completely transforming during the last couple of months as far as cleanliness and beautification are concerned.


Comment on this Story