SRINAGAR: Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary has directed officials of the Public Works Department (PWD) to strictly monitor all ongoing development works and take punitive action against contractors showing unsatisfactory performance, including blacklisting them.
Chairing a comprehensive review meeting in Jammu, the Deputy Chief Minister assessed progress on a range of infrastructure projects being undertaken in the Jammu Division under NABARD, PMGSY, CRIF, bridges and macadamisation schemes.
He issued clear instructions to concerned engineers to ensure there is no compromise on the quality of work and to strictly adhere to approved plans and completion timelines. “Projects must be completed on time, and their quality must reflect the standards set. Blacklist those contractors who are not performing up to the mark,” Choudhary asserted.
The Dy CM also called for regular review of ongoing works by engineering teams and warned of stringent action in case of any deviation from set norms or delivery of substandard work.
Emphasising that developmental plans should be aligned with the local needs and aspirations, the Deputy Chief Minister said the government under Chief Minister Omar Abdullah is committed to delivering reliable road connectivity and durable infrastructure for sustainable and inclusive growth.
The meeting was attended by Secretary PWD (R&B) Bhupinder Kumar, Chief Engineers, Superintending Engineers, Executive Engineers, and other senior officials.
The Deputy Chief Minister also took note of forest clearance delays and asked for proactive coordination among departments to resolve such bottlenecks swiftly.
Later, he visited the damaged stretch of the National Highway near Chichi Mata in Samba and directed officers to examine the causes of design failure and ensure accountability of the concerned executing agencies.
