Underlining the importance of road communication network in socio-economic transformation of peoples’ profile by promoting business transactions between rural and urban zones, the Minister for Roads& Buildings Mr. Abdul MajidWani stressed the need of completing on-going road projects in time-bound manner in the State. This Minister said this while addressing a joint review meeting of officers of JKPCC, PMGSY and R&B department which was convened to review the financial and physical status of various on-going road projects being executed in Udhampur District here today. Legislators, Mr. Harsh Dev Singh, Mr. KrishanChanderBhagat and Mr. Balwant Singh Mankotia were present in the meeting.The Minister took review of the progress of works scheme-wise and project-wise and got first hand appraisal of the pace of works under-execution in the district. He issued directions to the concerned for time bound completion of the projects for the convenience of the people with stress on quality control and judicious use of government funds.
The Minister highlighted the significance of PradanMantri Gram SadakYojana (PMGSY) in road communication, saying that the scheme is of higher importance as it is a specific programme launched to enhance the road connectivity in the hilly and far-off areas of the State. The economic development of the people living in remote and far-off areas of the state is entirely depending on the roads being constructed under PMGSY Scheme, he maintained.Taking serious note of slackness on the parts of some contractors who left the projects in the mid-way, the Ministers directed the authorities for terminating their contracts and float tenders afresh to complete these projects. He also asked to initiate action against the contractors who have failed to timely accomplish the projects. He also asked to involve the local representatives to remove the bottlenecks if any hampering in completion of the project.
Wani directed the concerned for preparing DPRs of inter-state vital links with the neighbouring states, adding that this would provide alternate road links and easy accessibility to the people of the states.Highlighting the issues of their respective constituencies relating to roads and buildings sector, the legislators demanded repair, renovation and up-gradation of existing roads and more funds for taking up new projects of public importance in their constituencies.The concerned officers gave detailed resume of physical and financial status of each project being carried out in the area under core sectors and assured for their time bound completion.The meeting was informed as many as 236 schemes are under-execution with sanction cost of Rs. 813.30 crore under PMGSY to connect 281 habitations in the district. Of which 55 schemes connecting 164 habitations stand completed by utilizing Rs. 232.90 crore so far and 32 schemes are expected to be completed by June-2014, the meeting was informed.It was further given out in the meeting that work on 153 road projects is going-on involving Rs. 23.69 crore on which Rs. 8.37 crore have been spend so far.
Later, a delegation led by former Minister Mr. Babu Singh also called on the Minister and highlighted various developmental needs of Kathua Constituency.The Minister heard the deputationists patiently and assured that their genuine demands would be looked into and redressed on priority. Among others, Commissioner Secretary, Roads & Building Mrs TanvirJehan, Chief Engineer R&B Jammu Sheikh Hamid, Chief Engineers PMGSY Kashmir and Jammu pisions Mr, Hamal and MM Gupta Managing Director, JK PCC Mr, T R Bhagat, besides Superintending Engineers, Executive Engineers and Deputy General Managers JK PCC attended the meeting.