Udheywala is a place as nondescript as its name would suggest. Nothing quite makes it stand out. Neither the old Ram temple, nor the agricultural college. Neither old residents huddling together in the afternoons to play cards, nor schoolkids riding dangerously atop matadors to hurry back home. The only distinguishing mark is the post office with a one-of-its-own-kind pincode: 180018. About 7-8 km from Jammu, with an army base 10-12 km ahead, Udheywala is home to about 20,000 people, a majority of them Pandits who settled here from Kashmir. It’s also home to nomadic Gujjars. Farming, brick-laying are major occupations. There is a private school and a market close by at Talab Tillo, but for most things—from hospitals to higher education—Udheywala depends on Jammu. But apart from its conspicuous pincode, Udheywala is known for another thing: real estate. More specifically, banquet halls. Pressed for space, it’s to Udheywala Jammu residents go to celebrate in sprawling wedding enclosures with monikers like Daru Resorts and KK Resorts. It’s a hub of new construction and land development activities and part of the state government’s plan to develop shopping and residential complexes. A community hall is being constructed at an estimated cost of about Rs 7.5 crore. If Jammu were Delhi, Udheywala could well be its upcoming Gurgaon.
By Channi Anand in Udheywala
