JAMMU, Aug 20: President of Mission Statehood Jammu Kashmir Sunil Dimple, along with hundreds of traders and local residents, held a protest rally against the government’s reported plan to construct a flyover connecting the Amphalla-New Plot area with Janipur High Court, Roop Nagar and Bantalab.
The protesters raised slogans against the proposed project and blocked the road for nearly an hour, disrupting traffic in the area. Addressing the gathering, Dimple warned that the agitation would be intensified and threatened to call for a “Jammu Bandh” if the proposed flyover project was not reconsidered.
Dimple alleged that government agencies had started demarcation work and placed markings inside shops, besides conducting soil-strength testing on roads in connection with the proposed construction. He claimed that the project could adversely affect traders, shopkeepers, residents and commercial establishments along the proposed route.
He alleged that the government had not taken traders and residents into confidence before moving ahead with the project. According to him, several traders and shopkeepers who have been operating in the area for decades, along with local residents, could face serious livelihood concerns if shops and houses are affected by the construction.
Dimple urged the Lieutenant Governor and the Chief Minister to consider an alternative ring road project connecting Amphalla-Manda with Janipur High Court, Roop Nagar, Bantalab and Akhnoor. He also demanded that the government examine the possibility of introducing a metro rail connection from Amphalla-Manda to Akhnoor as part of a broader transportation plan.
He argued that an alternative ring road would provide improved connectivity without causing extensive disruption to existing commercial establishments and residential areas.
Dimple also raised concerns over the possible impact of flyover construction on underground civic infrastructure. He claimed that the proposed pillars and related construction could damage existing sewerage networks and recently laid water-supply infrastructure serving residential areas.
He said traders and residents would continue their agitation through protests, rallies, dharnas and hunger strikes if their concerns were not addressed. He appealed to traders, shopkeepers and residents along the proposed route to unite and oppose what he described as a project that could adversely affect their businesses and homes.
The protest was also attended by traders and market representatives, including Jagdish Gupta, Happy Gupta, Rahul Sharma, Raji Khajuria, Bunty, Gulshan Kumar, Shubam, Pinka, Sonu, Depu, Sanjay Nagraj and others.