Srinagar, Nov 01 (KNO): Stating that Jammu was treated unfairly, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday said the restoration of the historic Darbar Move practice was aimed at correcting an "injustice". He also questioned the alleged irregularities in the utilisation of the 2014 flood relief funds.
Addressing a gathering after laying the foundation stone for the widening and four-laning of Boulevard Road, the Chief Minister, as per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), said the Darbar Move tradition was not the legacy of Sheikh Abdullah or his family, but existed even before 1947.
Omar said he restored the Darbar Move as Chief Minister after feeling that Jammu had been treated unfairly. “When I saw that injustice had been done to Jammu city, I restored the Darbar Move practice. If we were to make decisions based on religion or elections, I didn’t get a single MLA from Jammu city, yet I opened the office there again, because injustice had been done to Jammu,” he said.
“What compelled the closure of the Darbar Move? It was not our legacy. This system existed long before us. We revived it to correct injustice, and we will continue to do what is right,” he added.
The CM said obstacles would come in their path of restoring fairness, but the government remains committed. “We will not be intimidated. Our intentions are right, our eyes are fixed on Allah, and I believe He will guide us to our destination,” he said.
Moreover, the Chief Minister said that despite repeated assurances, no major flood-mitigation measures had been taken after the devastating 2014 deluge. “Tell us what immediate steps were taken to protect Srinagar from floods after 2014? What project was built? Where did the money we secured from the World Bank go?” he asked.
He sought details of dredging works in the River Jhelum and Flood Spill Channel, and questioned who was responsible for handling the funds. “Who embezzled money meant for the dredging of Jhelum and Wular projects?” he asked, adding that the PDP and BJP-led government must be held accountable.
Referring to recent heavy rains in Srinagar, Abdullah said the city was on the verge of flooding again. “It didn’t even rain for two days, and the embankments started giving way. If it had rained 24 hours more, Srinagar would have drowned,” he said.
On traffic congestion along the Boulevard stretch near Dal Lake, Omar said the administration was exploring the construction of a tunnel between Dal Gate and Nehru Park. “We will seek central assistance. If tunnels can be built in Jammu, Poonch and Kishtwar, why not in the heart of Srinagar?” he added.
Reiterating his government's commitment to public welfare, he highlighted schemes like free bus rides for women and said his administration does not discriminate on religious or regional grounds. “We work for rights, not religion, caste or community. Our intention is honest, and we will fulfil our promises,” he said.
The Chief Minister laid the foundation stone for the widening and four-laning of Boulevard Road from Nehru Park to Kral Sangri (RD 2000 m to RD 7000 m), marking a major milestone in the government’s ongoing efforts to strengthen Srinagar’s scenic and tourism infrastructure.
The prestigious project, being executed by the Public Works (R&B) Department at an estimated cost of Rs 19.94 crore, aims to improve road connectivity along Kashmir's most iconic lakefront stretch.
Speaking at the event, Omar said that the widening of the Boulevard stretch would not only decongest traffic but also enhance the aesthetic and tourism value of the Dal Lake precincts. “Travelling on Boulevard Road has become torturous; it takes hours to reach one’s destination,” the Chief Minister said, adding that his government was planning a series of projects to decongest Srinagar’s road network and provide much-needed relief to residents and tourists alike.
The Chief Minister said that for over a decade, Srinagar had not been given due attention, but that “all wrongs will now be corrected and undone under our government”.
He said this was not limited to Srinagar alone. “Even Jammu city has not received its due. The neglect faced by both cities in the past ten years will be set right by my government. We do not discriminate on the basis of religion, race, or region.”
Touching upon urban housing challenges, the CM said his government was seriously planning for vertical housing solutions in Srinagar. “Land in Srinagar is shrinking, and we must now go vertical. Sustainable housing and city planning are top priorities for us,” he stated.
Referring to the footbridge near Silk Factory Rajbagh, Omar Abdullah said that the bridge was originally conceived as a motorable structure during his earlier tenure but was later downgraded to a pedestrian bridge “for reasons best known to successive regimes”.
“We now plan to make it motorable again. A two-storey bridge with one level for pedestrians and another for vehicular movement,” he announced—(KNO)