||Black and White Digital News||

||Parvinder Singh July 5 ,2024 ||

JAMMU :In a significant move that promises to boost local businesses and ease urban connectivity, Arun Gupta, President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI), expressed deep gratitude to Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Tarun Chugh, BJP National General Secretary and Incharge of Jammu and Kashmir Party Affairs, and Jugal Kishore Sharma, Member of Parliament. Their concerted efforts have successfully addressed the contentious issue surrounding the flyover construction from the Kunjwani to Narwal sector.

Arun Gupta, representing the voice of numerous businesses and residents, articulated that while the expressway project was always welcomed, there was a strong preference for a flyover over a Reinforced Earth (RE) wall. The community feared that the proposed blind walls on either side of the expressway would sever crucial links between shops, businesses, and residential areas, potentially suffocating the lifeblood of local commerce.

The recent decision taken at a high-level meeting of the National Highway Authority of India, chaired by Nitin Gadkari, has assuaged these fears. Opting for a pillar-based design over the originally proposed blind wall flyover, this resolution is expected to maintain vital connections and ensure the free movement of traffic, much to the relief of the local community.

The expressway from Delhi to Katra, an ambitious infrastructure project, primarily traverses non-residential areas up to Kunjwani. However, the segment from Kunjwani onwards intersects densely populated city zones, affecting thousands of inhabitants. This section is a bustling hub of commercial activities, housing wholesale outlets, malls, hospitals, retail stores, and small-scale services. The land use in this area is predominantly commercial, making the initial proposal of blind walls particularly problematic.

Gupta highlighted the necessity of a community-friendly, pillar-based design for the expressway flyover, emphasizing that such a structure would better serve the dual purpose of facilitating the expressway while preserving the local commercial ecosystem. The decision to adopt this design underscores the government’s responsiveness to community needs and its commitment to balanced urban development.

The positive resolution of this issue has generated considerable cheer among stakeholders and business establishments on the outskirts of Jammu city. Gupta praised the intervention of Nitin Gadkari, Tarun Chugh, and Jugal Kishore Sharma, acknowledging their pivotal roles in navigating this complex issue. Their dedication to addressing local concerns while advancing national infrastructure projects has set a commendable precedent.

This development is seen not only as a victory for the local community but also as a testament to effective governance and collaborative problem-solving. The decision is expected to ensure the smooth integration of the expressway with existing urban areas, fostering economic growth and enhancing the quality of life for residents.

The high-level meeting of the National Highway Authority of India, presided over by Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, marks a decisive step forward in resolving the Kunjwani-Narwal flyover dispute. This outcome exemplifies the power of collaborative efforts between government officials and local stakeholders, ensuring that infrastructure projects meet both developmental and community needs.

As the expressway project progresses, the community-friendly design is set to transform the Kunjwani-Narwal sector, providing a boost to local commerce and ensuring seamless connectivity. This story of successful advocacy and responsive governance serves as an inspiring example for future infrastructure endeavors across the nation.