SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today listed the development projects launched by the Government in Srinagar during the last more than four-and-a-half years to give fillip to the development and economic activities.
He said the Government has provided highest ever District Plans to Srinagar District as it was starved for want of funds during the period of Opposition.
He said the then Government led by Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which is in opposition at present, even tried to shift the Srinagar city to Parihaspora to avenge the Srinagar citizens for not supporting it.
He said his Government is committed to make Srinagar a model city and an economic hub.
Mr Abdullah was addressing at a function after laying foundations of Rs 31 crore Parking Lot at Lal Chowk and Rs 351 crore Jahangir Chowk-Natipora flyover at Rambagh here.
He said that he had approved the most ambitious and huge Srinagar Flyover some two years earlier but he did not lay its foundation till today for the fact that he wanted to rehabilitate the shopkeepers and others getting affected by this project.
“We did not want to go in a hurry and snatch bread and butter earning capacity of the traders and shopkeepers coming under the project as was done in the case of expansion of Indira Gandhi Road,” he said and referred to a Shopping Mall constructed for the affected shopkeepers of Indira Gandhi Road at Haiderpora Chowk but none of these shopkeepers were provided shop there.
“I have given clear cut instructions to the ERA and JKPCC to first rehabilitate the shopkeepers and then move forward on the construction of the flyover project.
“It is for this reason delay has taken place and now the two Shopping Malls are almost complete at Rambagh and Exhibition Crossing for allotment to the affected shopkeepers, he maintained and said that all the affected shopkeepers would be allotted shops in these complexes before dismantling their present trade units.
