Jammu, Apr 15 : Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor Manoj Sinha on Tuesday evening joined citizens for the Tawi Aarti on the banks of the famous river here and launched a series of transformative urban initiatives aimed at elevating the overall environment of the riverfront and the surrounding area.
The Tawi Aarti was part of the three-day Tawi Mahotsav organised by Jammu Smart City Limited as part of Baisakhi celebrations. The festival will end on Thursday.
On the auspicious occasion, the Lt Governor dedicated the Tawi Riverfront Project (Phase-I) developed at a cost of Rs 156 crore to the public.
In Phase-1 of the Tawi Riverfront Project, Jammu Smart City Limited has developed promenades on the left bank, right bank and the central island, creating four continuous stretches for walking, jogging and cycling.
A dedicated ghat area has also been developed for the sacred Tawi Aarti.
“Our vision is to create inclusive, accessible and enriching spaces for every citizen. The Tawi Riverfront embodies this ethos with a seamless blend of tradition and modernity, where development harmonises with nature,” the Lt Governor said.
Sinha also laid the foundation stone for a four-lane connecting road to the right bank with a bridge to decongest a critical stretch of the city and directly connect Bhagwati Nagar rotary with Jewel Chowk in the heart of the city.
The development of green spaces along the top promenade of the left bank was also launched by the Lt Governor. The one-kilometre stretch will transform Tawi Riverfront into an ideal urban space and a vibrant hotspot for residents and tourists.
Sinha said under the Urban Challenge Fund, two major initiatives are being taken up — real estate monetisation of Phase-I and the extension of the riverfront from Bikram Chowk Bridge to Har Ki Paudi.
He emphasised that these initiatives will play a pivotal role in transforming the Tawi Riverfront into a vibrant tourist destination, a premier recreational hub and a dynamic economic centre.
“Our culture holds that cities along rivers retain even the winds infused with timeless values. Jammu embodies this truth. This ancient temple town is the heart of spirituality, culture and a living metaphor,” he said.
For millennia, the Lt Governor said this land has beckoned saints, philosophers and artists, enriching itself with their cultural and spiritual legacies.
“Over the past five-six years, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, we have strived to amplify Jammu’s grandeur and cultural consciousness,” he said.
He said that culture thrives only when lived and passed on to the next generation through its values.
“Those who built this city did not build it for themselves alone. They built it with confidence and trust that those who followed would understand and honour this priceless inheritance. The measure of a life is not what you gathered, but what you gave. Not what society offered you, but what you returned to it,” Sinha said.
The Lt Governor administered the anti-drug pledge to the citizens. He also felicitated the winners of the traditional “dangal”.
