Shadow Correspondent
Jammu, MAY 17:
A delegation of members of traders community headed by Sham Lal Langar, Convenor BJP Trade Cell, J&K, met with Member of Parliament Gulam Ali Khatana and discussed the proposed design of the RCC Wall structure for the Expressway Flyover passing from Narwal to Sainik Colony, seeking modification of the proposed RCC Wall structure with Pier and Girder Wall structure.
Sham Langar apprised the Member Parliament that in 1965, Kunjwani was designated a Bypass with just 30 feet wide.
Then, in 2000, the authorities widened it to 150 feet. But now due to heavy flow of vehicles, instead of making Kunjwani Bypass wider, the authorities are thinking of making it narrower, just 56 feet wide, by building a higher Expressway Flyover with blind walls.
Right now, from Narwal to Sainik Colony, a whole new city has grow up with 10 multi- specialist hospitals, 20 international schools, and 40 banquet halls along the stretch from Narwal to Sainik Colony.
If the new Expressway Flyover will be constructed with blind walls, localities like Kunjwani, Greater Kailash, Marble Market, Sainik Colony, Deeli, Channi Himmat, Channi Rama, Sabzi Mandi, Fruit Mandi, Transport Nagar, Bathindi, Rajiv Nagar, Kalka Colony, Narwal Bala, Sunjwan, and Trikuta Nagar Extension will be severely affected as well as will pose a great threat to the traders community of these areas.
Sham Langer apprised the Member Parliament that the decision to construct walls on both sides of the mid-section of the flyover poses a significant threat to the local business community and the well-being of the residents.
He said that the blind wall structure will disrupt vital connections between shops, businesses, and residences, causing inconvenience to residents, hindering emergency services, and impacting the daily commutes of pedestrians. This design, witnessed in the Bari Brahmana flyover, has previously proven detrimental to local businesses and community cohesion.
Drawing inspiration from the successful Satwari to Vijaypur flyover, he urged the Member Parliament to consider a pillar-based design for the Sainik Colony – Narwal flyover, ensuring seamless movement and promoting thriving businesses alongside the expressway.
Sham Langar mentioned that mostly the Expressway will be constructed out of city areas so that the populace as well as local traffic may not be affected. On one side, the government is making Jammu a Smart City and on the other the construction of Expressway flyover in the city areas seems not feasible.
The senior BJP leader suggested that instead of constructing the Expressway flyover in the city area, the route of expressway should be linked/ diverted with Ring Road right from Jagti to Vijaypur near Zamindara Dhaba.
The delegation requested the Member Parliament to intervene and mandate the construction of the Sainik Colony – Narwal flyover with a community-friendly pillar-based design. This modification would safeguard livelihoods, preserve community spirit, and contribute to the overall success of the expressway project, he added.
The Member Parliament assured the visiting delegation that he will take up the matter with authorities concerned and hoped that the Expressway flyover will be constructed as per community-friendly pillar-based design.
