SRINAGAR: Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo on Tuesday held an in-depth review of the Public Works Department (PWD) and the various infrastructure building schemes currently being implemented in Jammu and Kashmir.
The meeting was attended by the Principal Secretary, PWD Engineer-in-Chief, Director of Finance, R&B, and other relevant individuals, a DIPR statement issued to press reads.
During the meeting, Dulloo emphasized the importance of road infrastructure for the overall development of any area. He urged the Department to prioritize the upgrading of roads leading to newly discovered tourist destinations in each division.
“This would enhance the experience of visitors and contribute to the development of these destinations.” he said.
He also maintained that the maintenance of road surface should also be monitored by the Department for the quality of roads define the overall development of any area. He asked for providing fair weather roads to each such habitation which are still unconnected here in J&K.
In his presentation, the Principal Secretary, PWD, Shailendra Kumar gave an overview of all the major projects and works under execution through the Department. He gave the physical progress made on each project taken up under PMDP, CRIF, PMGSY, NABARD and other UT sector schemes with the estimated date of completion for each of them.
The Principal Secretary informed the meeting that the Department has taken several reforms which had ensured timely and quality execution of works in the UT. He gave out that the UT is first in the country that has ensured preparation of online Measurement Books for each work.
“Out of total road length of 41927 Kms, 36433 are blacktopped, 3012 are metalled, 2457 are fair weather roads. He said that the Department is making strenuous efforts to upgrade the whole length of roads as blacktopped in a phased manner,” Shailendra Kumar said.
Moreover it was revealed that from April 2020-March 2023 7826 projects have been completed besides blacktopping 17247 Kms at an expenditure of Rs 18716.94 Cr. It was given out that the cumulative expenditure per month made during this three-year period is Rs 519 Cr/month than Rs 319 Cr/month in the earlier 3 year period from April 2017-March 2020.
The major projects which came under review include Semi Ring Road Jammu, Semi Ring Road Srinagar, Udhampur-Ramban Section of NH 44, Ramban-Banihal Section of NH 44, Jammu-Akhnoor-Poonch road, Chenani-Sudhmahadev-Goha-Khellani-Chatroo-Khanabal road, Srinagar-Shopian-Qazigund road, Srinagar-Baramulla-Uri Road, Z-Morh tunnel, Zojilla tunnel, Delhi Katra Amritsar Expressway beside roads and bridges taken up under CRIF, PMGSY and other schemes.
Later on the Chief Secretary also took stock of the snow clearance preparations made by the Department. He enquired about the machinery and equipment in place for the timely opening of roads for public use. He stressed on clearance of all the roads with the least hindrance to the movement of people and essentials in all the snow-bound areas.
