JAMMU : Mayor Jammu Municipal Corporation, Chander Mohan Gupta and Divisional Commissioner, Dr Raghav Langer today chaired a meeting of business community, Transport Associations, Traffic police and Civil Administration to review the measures to ensure optimum use of mega Asset of Multi Level JDA parking at General Bus Stand.

The meeting was attended by President, Jammu Chamber of Commerce, Arun Gupta; Presidents of Raghunath Bazar Association, Residency road, Hari Market, Purani Mandi, Kanak Mandi Traders Federation, Taxi Union, Matador Union, Transport Union, Bus Stand Union besides Vice Chairman, JDA, Pankaj Magotra; ADC Jammu, General Manager SRTC, ARTO Jammu, Additional SP Traffic and other concerned officers were also present in the meeting.

The Divisional Commissioner took strong note of minimal use of JDA Parking and directed the concerned authorities to ensure optimal utilization of the multilevel parking which has capacity of approx 1350 vehicles.

The Mayor JMC and Div Com sought suggestions from all the participants for making this mega asset fully functional.

The participants gave their valuable suggestions and informed that the shopkeepers provided new shops are not doing too well due to low footfall.

In order to increase footfall of public, the participants advised for early start of E Rickshaw services, opening of all routes to the Bus Stand like Hari Market entrance, main road entrances. They further called for proper functioning of washrooms, lifts, Escalator, Food Courts, provisions of washrooms on all the floors which are presently available at ground floor and the 4th & 5th commercial floors.

While reviewing the allotment of shops, the stakeholders apprised that the existing minimum bid price is too high which should be reduced for better response of auction.

The Div Com took strong note of delay in functioning of some basic facilities and directed the JDA officials to take corrective measures and ensure proper functioning of all the 8 lifts installed there, proper functioning of washrooms, sanitation and better drainage. He also instructed that all the civil works, if pending, should be completed in a time bound manner.

He further instructed the JDA to take every possible corrective step to ensure that General Bus Stand and Multi Level parking were made properly functional.

While responding to the issue related to start of E Rickshaw services the Div Com said under the Smart City Project the JSCL has invited applications from interested and existing auto drivers to buy E Rickshaws for which government is also providing subsidy.

The Div Com also took cognizance of illegal parking of buses on the roadsides and pick and drop services from the road.

He strictly directed the ARTO Jammu to ensure that the buses do loading / unloading at their allotted slots in the Bus Stand. He also directed the Traffic department to ensure strict enforcement and ensure that vehicles are not wrongfully parked on the roads and no loading, unloading is allowed on the roads outside Bus Stand. Meanwhile, JDA is already issuing monthly passes on concessional rates to the shopkeepers of the area; who have to use this parking space on daily basis.

In order to make the JDA parking fully functional, the Div Com urged the market Associations to use the facility and also motivate customers for using this mega facility.