The Jammu & Kashmir Government will take a cue from Gujarat's Sabarmati River Front Development project to develop the Tawi River front in the State. The Centre on Tuesday gave it the go-ahead to undertake the project under the Smart City plan. The State Government had earlier failed in its bid to develop the Tawi River front under the Jawaharlal Nehru Natioanl Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) scheme.
In his meeting with the Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Singh Puri at Nirman Bhawan, Jammu and Kashmir deputy chief minister Nirmal Singh has sought help in the development of 4.50-km stretch of Tawi river front along the lines of Sabarmati River Front Development in Gujarat to make it a major tourist attraction in the City of Temples and Jammu as an independent tourist destination. Singh also asked to fund this project under smart city. The union minister has assured to all possible assistance to Jammu and Kashmir Government in all matters of urban development.
Sabarmati Riverfront development project in Gujarat, is considered as then chief minister Narendra Modi's pet project. The project was undertaken in order to promote tourism and preserve the river. The project was an attempt to revitalise the river and its banks as an urban space.
The river was carrying significant sewage flow and was used as dumping yard for disposal of garbage. The embankments on either side of the river have been designed to provide wide walkways with access steps, ramps and Ghats for pedestrians close to the water body.
Sources said that Detailed Projects Report of Tawi river development has been submitted to Ministry of Water Resources, river development and Ganga Rejuvenation for approval. As per plans, flower garden, coffee shops, shopping malls, food courts, restaurants , pavilion, banquet halls, book shops and library would be set up on the river front areas.
"The present Jammu and Kashmir Government want to present this project as showcase of his achievement, said the sources adding that the Union Minister has assured that he would consult with officials of his ministry on mobilisation of resources for the sewerage project in Jammu including its financing under the ongoing urban missions.
The river development project also involves embankment on both sides of the Tawi with Diaphragm Walls, anchor slabs and retaining walls in the stipulated stretch on two levels.
There is also a plan to extend Tawi embankment from Gujjar Nagar bridge so that upper part of the city may not be affected during floods.