Jammu, Jan 10: Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and MLA Bahu Constituency, Vikram Randhawa on Friday met Chief Minister Omar Abdullah at Civil Secretariat Jammu and discussed critical issues plaguing housing colonies within the constituency, including Gandhi Nagar, Trikuta Nagar and Channi Himmat.
During the meeting, Randhawa, according to his statement, presented a detailed memorandum addressing various problems and sought immediate redressal. He called for the regularization of 10 feet of additional land in Gandhi Nagar, which has been in use by residents for over six decades. “This land was annexed with tacit approval from authorities,” he alleged. He demanded either its regularization at reasonable rates or allowing residents to maintain it as green patches.
Vikram also raised concerns over the Housing Board charging exorbitant transfer fees on freehold plots in Gandhi Nagar and sought restrictions on such practices. Highlighting human needs, he advocated for allowing the division of residential plots to accommodate expanding families.
The MLA underscored the challenges in transferring plots in Trikuta Nagar and Channi Himmat due to a cumbersome process, calling for a simpler, time-bound system. He demanded hassle-free inheritance-based transfers and reassessment of exorbitant charges for renewing lease deeds. Additionally, Randhawa urged the Chief Minister to restore the zero-stamp duty policy for women and to reduce stamp duty rates overall to benefit the public.
Traffic management in these colonies also featured prominently in Randhawa’s discussion. He called for strict enforcement of parking rules, increased traffic signals, and better regulation during peak hours. To address traffic congestion, he proposed constructing flyovers at Transport Nagar and Channi Himmat or widening railway bridges to ease bottlenecks.
The BJP leader suggested launching a pilot project to install solar lights in parks and other public spaces, noting the poor functionality of SMART Street Lights in the colonies. He stressed the need for proper maintenance of the Channi Himmat Green Belt Park and demanded immediate action to address the neglected portions of the park and the lack of streetlights on adjoining roads.
Other issues raised included launching a multi-disciplinary drive to curb drug abuse among youth, improving the condition of the river abutting the Shastri Nagar Cremation Ground, and ensuring regular garbage clearance to prevent perennial nuisances. Randhawa urged the Chief Minister to direct the concerned authorities to take prompt action to alleviate these pressing concerns and improve the quality of life for the residents of Bahu Constituency.
The Chief Minister gave a patient hearing to the issues raised by MLA Vikram Randhawa and assured him of prompt action to address the concerns of the residents of Bahu Constituency, the statement said.
