Chamber of Commerce & Industry Jammu Appeals to Nitin Gadkari on Proposed Katra-Delhi Expressway Construction, Urges Community-Centric Approach

New Delhi, 04-01-2024 : A delegation of Chamber of Commerce & Industry Jammu led by its President Sh. Arun Gupta alongwith Sh. Anil Gupta, Sr. Vice President CCI, Sh. RajeeV Gupta, Jr. Vice President CCI, Sh. Manish Gupta, Secretary General CCI and Sh. Rajesh Gupta Secretary CCI called on Sh. Nitin Gadkari, Hon’ble  Union Minister of Road, Transport and Highways at New Delhi and briefed him about the concerns regarding the proposed construction designs of Katra-Delhi express way especially Kunjwani to Narwal section and Kunjwani to Satwari section and submitted a memorandum.

Two of our senior members Sh. Davinder Rana, Seh Parbhari BJP  Himachal State Unit and  Sh. Sham Lal Langer, Ex-Sr. Vice President CCI who  were present at Delhi were requested by Sh. Arun Gupta to accompany the delegation.

During interaction Sh. Arun Gupta said that  Jammu & Kashmir is currently experiencing unprecedented development under your leadership. Massive infrastructure projects are transforming the Union Territory, contributing significantly to its overall growth and prosperity.

He also expressed that certain concerns and recommendations regarding the ongoing infrastructure development projects in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, particularly the Katra Delhi Expressway.

Sh. Arun Gupta drew the attention of the Hon’ble Minister to the proposed construction design of the expressway flyover between Kunjwani to Narwal, which includes the implementation of blind walls. While we acknowledge the importance of infrastructure development, we are concerned that the blind walls on both sides of the expressway may disrupt vital connections between shops, businesses, and residences.

In the era of advanced technologies, we question the adherence to old patterns, especially when modern infrastructure technicalities are readily available. The blind walls may not align with the current needs of the community and may cause inconvenience to residents, hinder emergency services, and impact the daily commutes of pedestrians.

The land use of this area is mainly commercial. Varied types of commercial activities in the form of wholesale, Malls, Hospitals, retail, or small-scale services are carried out in this area.

About 6 kms away from the project starting point at 515 KM +000, a wholesale fruit market, mandi,and garages for heavy vehicles, including bodybuilding units of trucks and buses, are situated. The project will impact 502 commercial establishments(approx.), which include 365 shops, 10 Vehicle showrooms including Private Vehicles, Construction equipment along with their service centers, 37 godowns, 5 Schools, 65 office spaces, 7 Hospitals, 5 Malls, and 8 shops in sheds in both government and private structures. In addition to the commercial establishments, the impact of the livelihood would be on the households (HH) losing their shops. There will be direct impacts on source of income for households losing godowns, as these are used only to support businesses; hence, losing them will result in a economical disturbance and inconvenience in storing goods. Thus, the loss of livelihood will be posed to 587 commercial establishments which implies for loss of income and which directly impacts the economy of Jammu.

The portion from Kunjwani to Narwal encompasses residential and commercial areas, and we believe that a community-friendly pillar-based design for the expressway flyover would be more suitable. This modification would not only address the concerns of the local community but also contribute to the overall success of the expressway project.

Additionally, we wish to bring to your attention the livelihood of 65 shopkeepers are in great danger with the construction of proposed flyover from Kunjwani to Satwari section, upto the Government College for Women in Gandhi Nagar, Jammu. These shopkeepers, who have been running their establishments for over six decades, now face the threat of losing their livelihoods due to the proposed flyover design.

Understanding the importance of these businesses in supporting the local community, we earnestly request your office to consider a slight shift of the flyover by 1.5 meters to save the livelihoods of atleast 45 shopkeepers. This adjustment would not only preserve the economic stability of these families but also showcase the government’s commitment to supporting local businesses.

We trust that your esteemed office will consider our concerns and recommendations with the seriousness they deserve. Your intervention in these matters will undoubtedly contribute to the success of the Katra Delhi Expressway while ensuring the well-being of the local communities it serves.

Sh. Nitin Gadkari, Hon’ble Union Minister of Road, Transport and Highways telephonic talked to the Chairman NHAI regarding the issues discussed in the meeting. He also assured that he will personally look into the issues and find out the solution regarding the above problems.. he also said that we are of the opinion that the general public should not be harassed while taking up the developmental projects.