Who will rectify it?

One-Hour Rain Exposes ‘Smart City’ Claims: Passenger Shed at Main Stop Leaks from Multiple Spots

This Passenger Shed serves as a perfect litmus test-just as a cook checks a single grain of rice to determine whether the entire pot is cooked, this one structure reflects the overall quality and integrity of the entire Smart City project.

RC Sharma Chanakya
Jammu, June 15: In a shocking turn of events, Saturday evening’s brief rainfall lasting less than an hour has exposed the hollow claims made by the administration under the much-publicized Smart City project. The Passenger Shed constructed at Main Stop, Gandhi Nagar, began leaking heavily from multiple points just minutes after the rain started-leaving commuters dismayed and drenched.
As the first drops fell, motorcyclists and pedestrians rushed under the shed seeking refuge, only to find themselves battling water pouring through the roof from several locations. What was meant to offer shelter instead became a site of disappointment and discomfort. The leakage was so extensive that the shed appeared decades old, rather than a recent product of a modern infrastructure initiative.
This glaring failure raises serious questions about the quality and supervision of Smart City constructions in Jammu. Despite tall claims and loud proclamations about transparency, accountability, and quality, today’s incident has exposed the reality: even a normal spell of rain was enough to tear through the integrity of a structure supposedly built to modern standards.
This correspondent, who was also among those seeking shelter at the site, witnessed the sheer helplessness as four to five people kept shifting positions inside the shed in a futile attempt to avoid the leaking water. It was a grim reflection of the inefficiency of a system where even a basic commuter shelter cannot withstand mild weather.
What’s more concerning is the systemic failure in accountability. From the Jammu Municipal Commissioner to the Deputy Commissioner, Divisional Commissioner, Administrative Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, and up to the Chief Secretary-every level of administration is responsible for ensuring quality and proper monitoring. Yet, somewhere down the line, that chain of responsibility has failed.
This Passenger Shed serves as a perfect litmus test-just as a cook checks a single grain of rice to determine whether the entire pot is cooked, this one structure reflects the overall quality and integrity of the entire Smart City project.
A video capturing the leakage was immediately recorded and shared by this journalist with the Municipal Commissioner, Divisional Commissioner, and Chief Secretary via WhatsApp. A check on the platform revealed that the Chief Secretary had viewed the message, while the read status of the other two could not be confirmed-possibly
due to privacy settings. Regardless, one expects that a public concern of such gravity would command immediate attention.
The message shared with them read as follows:
“Please see this video of the Passenger Shed at Main Stop, where water is leaking-an issue of serious concern. This evening’s rain lasted less than an hour, yet the shed failed to withstand it, exposing the reality behind the Smart City hype. Kindly take swift action and order a proper enquiry. Responsibility must be fixed, and the concerned official should be punished. This shed was built under the Smart City scheme. It is indeed alarming, as the entire administration is accountable for such substandard construction. – RC Sharma, Journalist.”
This matter is now in the public domain. The onus lies with the authorities to respond transparently and effectively. The administration must undertake a thorough inspection of all Passenger Sheds constructed under the Smart City banner and restore public faith in its promises. Accountability is not just a virtue-it’s a necessity.