India, Jan. 29 -- Jammu witnessed a festive atmosphere on Wednesday evening as a two-day boat festival began at the newly developed Tawi Riverfront, drawing large crowds to the much-awaited artificial lake.

Organised to showcase the riverfront as a new urban and tourism space, the event offered free boating rides and scintillating performances by music bands, bringing joy to visitors, mostly locals including women and children.

A flagship initiative of Jammu Smart City Limited (JSCL), the Tawi riverfront development project aims to revitalise the banks of the river by integrating flood protection with recreational and commercial infrastructure. The project was launched in 2009 by the then Congress-National Conference government, but has...