In the last five years, Jammu has been projected as a “Smart City in the making,” with tall promises, glossy presentations, and political assurances. However, many glaring examples of failure of the Lt Governor’s administration hits the ground but the centre govt is caught on fast sleeping after it had made promises to the people of Jammu and Kashmir to provide corruption free administration on August 5th , 2019. This proves a futile exercise as we have notices that kith and kins, relatives of Raj Bhawan brought in b on deputation in Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and all them were posted on prime posts in the administration. Smart City Mission in Jammu which is hits the ground as pedestrians struggling to navigate a poorly constructed roads and site, part of the 875 crore initiative meant to transform Winter Capital of Jammu and Kashmir. Many complaints have been sent to the the CEO, JSCL and all concerned officials , shows the same neglect seen at many places in Jammu Smart City near New Plots, Sarwal Chowk, Amphalla, Purani Mandi, Parade Ground, Jewel crossing and KC Chowk etc. Despite repeated complaints , officers remain unmoved , raising serious questions about their sincerity . Where are our local MLA’s and their party’s boost of being a “Party with a Difference”?. The BJP-led at Centre promised accountability and development, yet substandard works like broken footpaths and unrectified infrastructure persists across Jammu is the difference they tout merely a veneer for corruption . J&K ACB raids in January 2025 exposing financial irregularities in the SMC the pattern is clear yet Jammu’s issues remain ignored . Are our elected representatives complicit or just indifferent ? The media turning a blind eye as issues adversely affecting the masses pedestrians risking injury , taxpayers money wasted bring shame to our governance , yet they’re buried under the photo- ops and ‘Seva Parab’ celebrations.The lack of coverage suggests either complicity or cowardice , failing to hold officers accountable as required under laws of land. Jammuites deserve answers from Lt Governor, MP’s and MLA’s, because the Nation’s development can’t be sacrificed for corruption and silence. Another example is an International level cricket stadium is proposed by the Union Minister Dr Jatindra Singh on the name of his former colleague and union finance minister Late Arun Jaitely at Hiranagar could not be built as the Lt Governor administration failed to transfer land for it to J&K sports department even though the foundation stone was virtually laid by the then Union Sports minister Kiran Rijiju.The third glaring example of mis-governance is that Lt Governor administration has deliberately allotted a disputed 57 kanals to the Apollo Hospital Enterprises to set to Cancer hospital at Deeli, Kunjwani in Jammu so that Jammuites should not get this hospital. All the major projects for the Jammu region were stalled by the Lt Governor administration the reason best known to them. Two MPs Jugal Sharma and Khatana and 28 MLAs of BJP from Jammu division could not open their mouths against the discrimination being faced by the people of Jammu since 2019. These BJP MPs and MLAS are busy in accusing Omar Abdllah led govt of discrimination but do not dare to spoke against the Lt Governor,, who has absolute powers to govern in J&K . They should know that “Smart City” as defined globally, is one where modern techniques and better planning make the life of a common citizen comfortable good roads, strong drainage systems, clean drinking water, uninterrupted power supply, efficient traffic monitoring with CCTV coverage, green spaces, pollution control, e-governance, and above all, an administration responsive to public needs. The recent spell of rain in Jammu exposed the stark gap between promise and reality as roads turned into artificial ponds, water gushed into homes, and the much-hyped “Smart City” billboards floated helplessly in the floodwaters. The idea of Jammu as a smart city is fast becoming a cruel joke. This is not a natural calamity problem; it is the result of political indifference and administrative failure. Crores of rupees have been spent, yet change on the ground remains invisible. Jammu requires not just promises but honest leadership, transparent governance, and strict accountability. Public money was spent on cycle stands and fancy bicycles under the smart city tag, but no cycle lanes were created. Today, most of these cycles are rusting, locked, and unused monuments of mismanagement. The “Smart City” narrative in Jammu currently exists more on paper and posters than in practice.
