Parade Sabzi Mandi has been part of Jammu’s everyday life for generations. For traders, it is a source of livelihood. For residents, it is a familiar place for daily purchases. That is why the proposed redevelopment of this century-old market must be seen as more than a construction project. It is about making an old commercial space safer and more functional without disturbing the people who have kept it alive for decades.
The Jammu Municipal Corporation’s Rs 5.88 crore redevelopment plan is, in principle, a necessary step. Ageing structures, congestion and poor civic facilities cannot be ignored indefinitely. If engineers have identified unsafe portions of the market, the Corporation has a clear responsibility to act before any serious accident occurs. The concern is especially relevant in the old city, where ageing buildings often become vulnerable during heavy rains and the monsoon. Safety cannot wait for tragedy. But at the same time, action must be measured, transparent and sensitive to the realities of those whose businesses depend on the market every single day. The proposed plan includes 160 open vending spaces and 20 shops, along with better parking, more water coolers and improved toilet facilities. These are basic amenities that should have been strengthened long ago. A market that attracts substantial daily footfall needs proper sanitation, drinking water, safer movement and better traffic management. JMC’s assurance that existing shop rents will not be disturbed is important and should help address some concerns among traders. The decision to carry out the work in phases is also sensible, because a complete shutdown could seriously affect livelihoods. What is needed now is clarity about how each phase will be implemented and what arrangements will be made for those temporarily affected. The Corporation has said that more than 12 meetings were held with the market association over the past several months. That consultation should continue even after the work begins. Traders need to know where they will operate during construction, how spaces will be allotted after redevelopment and how long each phase is expected to take. This is where communication becomes crucial. In the absence of clear information, rumours spread quickly, particularly on social media. JMC should place the approved plan, timelines and major project details in the public domain. Regular updates can help build confidence and reduce unnecessary confrontation. At the same time, the civic body should not treat every concern raised by traders as resistance to development. People who have worked in the market for years are entitled to ask questions about their future. Listening to them does not weaken the project. It can actually make implementation smoother. Modernization should also be meaningful. Rebuilding structures alone will not solve every problem. Drainage, waste disposal, fire safety, pedestrian access, loading and unloading, ventilation and cleanliness must all be part of the final design. Otherwise, the city risks replacing old problems with new ones. The project also needs strict monitoring. Phased redevelopment can easily stretch beyond deadlines if contractors are not held accountable. Delays would hurt small vendors most, because even a few weeks of disrupted business can have serious financial consequences.
Parade Sabzi Mandi can become a good example of how Jammu modernizes its old commercial areas without wiping away their character. The Corporation deserves support for taking up a long-pending issue, but that support must be matched by transparent execution, timely completion and genuine protection of existing livelihoods. A joint monitoring mechanism involving JMC officials, engineers and market representatives would be useful. If the redevelopment is carried out with care, the city can gain a safer and cleaner market while preserving the familiar commercial space that generations of Jammu residents have grown up with. More importantly, JMC deserves appreciation for reviving a long-pending project and recognizing that Jammu’s traditional markets need modern civic standards. The redevelopment should now incorporate heritage-sensitive design, universal accessibility, organized loading hours, dedicated waste-segregation points, energy-efficient lighting and a digital vendor registry. These additions can make Parade Sabzi Mandi safer, cleaner, easier to manage and more resilient for future generations.