The incomplete Oceanarium at Bagh-e-Bahu has now become the latest symbol of Jammu’s chronic and deep-rooted project mismanagement—a Rs 19-crore structure that nears civil completion yet lacks the very marine life that defines its purpose. It is inconceivable that a project could be conceived, sanctioned, funded, and executed to this stage without any clarity on its most essential component: the procurement and maintenance of marine species. This is not a minor oversight. It is a systemic failure that exposes the alarming gaps in planning culture, bureaucratic accountability, and public financial management in Jammu.
The facts speak for themselves. A Detailed Project Report was approved, contracts were awarded, and civil works advanced smoothly. Yet at no point did the project designers, executing agencies, or even the Board of Directors of Jammu Smart City Limited bother to consult the Fisheries Department—the only agency capable of assessing whether such a facility could be maintained. Only after crores were spent did the department state what should have been clear from the beginning: maintaining a saltwater marine ecosystem is outside its domain. As a result, the project now stands suspended in uncertainty. Who will procure the species? Who will transport them? Who will manage the intricate water chemistry, filtration systems, and the health of species such as sharks? No one has an answer.
This is not an accident—it is a glaring failure of due diligence. And it demands accountability, not quiet internal notings. The Oceanarium now joins a long list of Jammu’s incomplete or ill-conceived projects that have consumed public funds but provided little public benefit. Residents are all too familiar with this pattern. The musical fountain at Bagh-e-Bahu remains non-functional due to an incompatible generator backup. The JDA Bus Stand was transformed into an oversized, underutilised complex that serves neither buses nor commuters. Jammu Haat lies largely abandoned. The once-celebrated artificial lake project remains stuck in limbo years after deadlines faded. Even the much-publicised ropeway between Peerkho and Bawe Wali Mata temple remains inoperational despite massive spending, with no clear explanation.
Across these projects, the same blueprint of failure emerges: extravagant announcements, poor planning, inadequate inter-departmental coordination, and an absence of post-completion operation plans. Public money is poured into structures that either do not work, do not serve their purpose, or simply never open. Meanwhile, authorities express surprise at outcomes that were entirely predictable.
The Oceanarium fiasco is perhaps the starkest example because the very essence of the project—the marine species—was never planned for. Without decisive action, the underwater glass tunnel may soon stand as a hollow, empty attraction. Talk of outsourcing operations to a private firm is a reaction, not a strategy. A project of this nature requires detailed assessments of capital costs, operating expenditures, and projected revenues—none of which appear to have been properly examined.
The stakes for Jammu are high. With the Delhi-Katra Expressway almost ready, most trains bypass Jammu for Katra, and Kashmir continues to attract the bulk of tourism. To retain its relevance, Jammu needs strong, distinctive attractions—not structures that exist only on paper or in half-completed form. Construction alone does not bring tourists; functionality does.
It is time for the Government to urgently revisit Jammu’s tourism development approach. Announcements without feasibility studies, sustainability plans, or operational clarity must come to an end. The Oceanarium still holds immense promise. It could place Jammu on India’s marine tourism map and become a major attraction for students, families, and visitors across the region. But this will require immediate, coordinated, and technically sound decision-making. Passing files from one department to another will not revive the project; taking responsibility will.
Jammu cannot afford another white elephant. The Oceanarium must not become another monument to administrative paralysis. The Government must fix accountability, decide on procurement and maintenance mechanisms, and ensure that long-term operational planning begins now. A way out exists—what is missing is the will to act.
