Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo today chaired the 29th Executive Body meeting of the Mubarak Mandi Jammu Heritage Society (MMJHS), focusing on the adaptive reuse of restored structures and development of supporting infrastructure to boost tourism at the Mubarak Mandi Royal Palace Complex in Jammu.
The meeting, attended by Principal Secretary Culture Brij Mohan Sharma, Secretary Law, Executive Director MMJHS Deepika Sharma, MD Cable Car Corporation, and Director Archives, Archaeology & Museums, reviewed the progress of ongoing conservation works and future plans.
The Chief Secretary stressed the timely completion of projects and emphasized adaptive reuse of restored structures to turn Mubarak Mandi into a vibrant cultural and tourism destination. “This is an iconic project in the heart of Jammu. Its potential must be fully tapped to attract heritage enthusiasts,” Dulloo noted.
Principal Secretary Culture highlighted the department’s conservation achievements and outlined the roadmap to transform the complex into a thriving tourist hub. Executive Director Deepika Sharma presented an update on restoration efforts and proposed infrastructure initiatives.
The meeting reviewed the updated adaptive reuse plan prepared with INTACH, proposing innovative use of conserved buildings like Raja Ram Singh Palace, Darbar Hall, and Dogra Museum for museums, educational, and cultural activities.
Proposals discussed included:
Old Library Cafeteria: To be developed by JSCL at a cost of ₹3.14 crore.
Multi-Level Parking: Jammu Municipal Corporation will execute the ₹20–25 crore project for 200 cars and 130 two-wheelers on 1,517 sqm land.
Circular Road Bridge: A ₹23.50 crore, 250-metre bridge connecting Circular Road with Mubarak Mandi, under execution by PWD Jammu East.
Vertical Lift: Progress of the Peer Kho–Mubarak Mandi lift project, assigned to JKCCCL, was also reviewed.
PPP Mode Advisory: Hiring of transaction advisors for future MMJHS projects.
Further deliberations included expediting Phase-II works (Royal Courts, Gadvai Khana, Badi Deodi), revamping Andheri Gali, building a stronger in-house conservation team, and addressing security issues due to multiple access points.
The Chief Secretary called for prompt resolution of pending issues and reiterated the administration’s commitment to preserving and promoting the Mubarak Mandi complex as a premier heritage tourism destination in Jammu.