Modi Govt turning Jammu into economic, tourism powerhouse: Raman Suri

• “Tawi lake to redefine Jammu’s skyline, social Life”

JAMMU: Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Raman Suri today said that the BJP-led government at the Centre is decisively transforming Jammu and Kashmir into a hub of development, activity and self-reliance, marking a new era of growth that the region had never witnessed before.

Raman Suri said that it is because of the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi that centrally conceived mega projects like the Tawi Lake Project have not only taken shape but have been significantly expanded to match global standards. He described the project as a “historic and game-changing initiative” that will soon emerge as the biggest attraction for both domestic and international tourists.

“The Tawi Lake project, being developed on the lines of the Sabarmati Riverfront in Ahmedabad, is going to completely transform Jammu’s economy. It will generate employment, attract investment and place Jammu firmly on the tourism map of the country. For this transformative vision, the people of Jammu and Kashmir must thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” Raman Suri said.

He added that the project will give a massive boost to business and economic activity through facilities such as kiosks, cycling tracks, residential apartments, walkways, amphitheaters, recreational zones and cultural spaces. “These activities will not only strengthen our local economy but will also create a vibrant new social and cultural life along the riverfront, making Jammu a modern, lively and inclusive city,” he said.

Raman Suri urged the government to further enhance the project by converting the entire old warehouse area along the Tawi into a large green park. He said this proposed green space should connect old Jammu and new Jammu on both sides of the river, creating a shared public space for citizens. “This green corridor will act as the lung space of Jammu, improve environmental health and, once developed, will become yet another major attraction seamlessly connected with the Tawi Lake project,” he added.

Highlighting the broader development roadmap, Raman Suri said that Jammu is steadily emerging as a major center of education, healthcare and tourism. “Institutions like IIT, IIM and AIIMS, along with the Tawi Lake project and world-class road connectivity to Katra, Kashmir and Poonch, will make Jammu the pivot of tourism and economic activity in the entire region,” he said.

Taking a dig at the opposition, Raman Suri questioned the Congress and its allies, including PDP and National Conference, for their decades of inaction. “What stopped these parties from building such massive infrastructure projects and developing our cities? Why were they unable to scale development in Jammu and Kashmir the way it is happening now under the BJP government?” he asked.

He said that previous regimes lacked both vision and intent, whereas the present government believes in development with transparency, speed and scale. “The people of Jammu and Kashmir can clearly see the difference today. Projects like Tawi Lake symbolize the new Jammu and Kashmir—confident, forward-looking and self-reliant,” Raman Suri asserted.