The sorry state of the Tawi bridges has once again exposed glaring lapses in the functioning of the local administration and the Jammu Municipal Corporation. What were projected as symbols of urban renewal and civic pride have today turned into an urban eyesore, raising uncomfortable questions about accountability and governance.
Flower pots installed on the bridges at a cost running into lakhs have either gone missing. Equally disturbing is the fate of the tricolour lights that once illuminated the bridges on national occasions and had become a visual identity of the city. Today, most of these lights are missing, leaving the bridges in darkness and neglect.
The beautification exercise was widely publicised and welcomed by the public when launched. Regular watering and upkeep initially suggested that the administration was serious about maintaining the city’s appearance. However, that seriousness appears to have faded with time. The complete absence of maintenance for months now points to administrative indifference rather than unavoidable constraints.
What is particularly alarming is the lack of clarity on responsibility. Which department is accountable for the missing flower pots? Who is responsible for safeguarding and maintaining the costly lighting system? Were stock registers maintained, and has any audit been conducted to ascertain how public assets disappeared from a prominent public space? The silence of the authorities on these questions only deepens public suspicion.
Crores of rupees were reportedly spent on tricolour lighting and substantial funds on plantation work at prominent locations such as Gujjar Nagar and Bikram Chowk. If these installations are meant to function only during special occasions, the administration must explain why permanent public assets were created in the first place. Public money cannot be treated as expendable, nor can civic projects be reduced to ceremonial showcases.
The neglect visible on the Tawi bridges is not an isolated case. Similar beautification projects across the city have met the same fate—grand announcements followed by quiet abandonment. This reflects a deeper problem in urban governance, where inaugurations take precedence over sustained monitoring and maintenance.
Beautification without accountability is nothing but cosmetic governance. The district administration of Jammu must fix responsibility, conduct a transparent assessment of missing and damaged assets, and place the facts before the public. People of Jammu city deserve not just temporary displays but a city managed with seriousness, transparency and respect for public funds.
