GY CORRESPONDENT
JAMMU, APRIL 29
Gandhi Nagar Housing Board colony is rapidly becoming a commercial hub, with residential areas being converted for commercial use, despite concerns from residents and allegations of negligence by the JMC authorities. The transformation is particularly noticeable along Apsara Road, which is now considered a commercial market. Residents have also raised concerns about congestion due to the proliferation of shops in residential areas.
The entire Apsara Road in Gandhi Nagar has become a major commercial market, indicating a substantial increase in commercial establishments in garb of Jammu Smarty City Ltd Projects.
There are allegations that the Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) has been negligent in addressing the issue and enforcing regulations, allowing the commercialization to continue. The implementation of a “mixed land use” concept is also being criticized, as it is alleged to be used by officers to grant undue advantages to applicants seeking building permissions for commercial use in residential areas.
There are calls for the JMC to prepare an inventory of all commercial establishments in Gandhi Nagar, which would help in identifying and addressing unauthorized commercial activities.
To put the things in perspective , commercial construction is going on bifurcated residential plot 20 B/C having two equal portion nearly 5000 sqft each, Gandhi Nagar Jammu by one Vishal Kohli s/o Jagdish Raj Kohli without JMC permission and on other portion of this residential bifurcated plot already Yes Bank is running. It deserves mentioning here that Vishal Kohli s/o Jagdish Raj Kohli had recently approached J&K Housing Board for transfer of ownership rights in his favour but the same was rejected by Housing Board on the ground that the plot has been bifurcated and already commercial activity is going on in form of Yes Bank on one portion of this bifurcated plot.
This also means that if the plot is bifurcated, JMC can’t approve site plan and according to sources JMC hasn’t approved any site plan in favour of owner. Now question arises if Housing Board hasn’t transfer ownership rights in favour of owner and if JMC hasn’t approved site plan in favour of owner then with whose permission and whose patronage this violated commercial construction at ground floor and first floor with steel structure is going on at residential plot against JMP-2032 and Unified Building Bye-laws 2021.
It is surprising to note that the ongoing commercial construction is going on on main road of Gandhi Nagar and still enforcement staff deputed in Ward-20 hasn’t reached spot what to think of stopping this violated construction and reporting same to JMC higher authorities and in this regard, concerned Enforcement Inspector Pranav Jamwal and Assistant Enforcement officer Yashpal should be put to task why no action is being taken against owner especially when Gandhi Nagar is swiftly turning into commercial hub against JMP-2032 and ULLB-2021.
Similarly one Baldev Singh already running NEXA Showroom at 4 A/C residential plot after purchasing it from one Pawan Dubey in 2015 has recently constructed 2nd floor and renovation in the month of Jan 2025 and has already started running Saloon Fashion TV from Jan 2025. It deserves mentioning here that when owner started running NEXA Showroom from residential plot in the year 2015, JMC had sealed the premises wherein owner against sealing notice approached J&K Special Tribunal and got de-sealing order. However JMC Authorities challenged de-sealing order of J&K Special Tribunal in Jammu High Court and still the matter is sub-judice. Now the question arises when proceedings of case title Baldev Singh Vs JMC Authorities is still going on how owner managed to raise another floor and even started running Saloon Fashion TV.
It is unfortunate to note that despite complaints filed by locals before Commissioner JMC, nothing was done in this regard which is evident from the fact that after the complaints received by Commissioner JMC office , a team of JMC concerned staff visited the site but did nothing and as on date it seems that JMC has stopped proceedings in the case as a result of which NEXA Showroom and Saloon Fashion TV continuously running at 4 A/C residential plot. Commissioner JMC should seriously look into the matter and whosoever is guilty of dereliction of duty should be punished and henceforth should restore original use of residential plot only for residential purposes.
