In a new initiative, the Public Works Department has established a Monitoring Mechanism wherein the people can directly bring into the notice of the concerned Minister and the Commissioner Secretary R&B the issues of public importance including condition of roads, bridges and buildings in their respective areas.This was announced by the Minister for Public Works, Mr Naeem Akhtar here today.The Minister said the people can directly communicate their grievances regarding dilapidated condition of roads & bridges, lack of maintenance or unfinished works, to him either through social media or other means of communication. “I assure the people that the Department would take immediate and tangible action on their complaints and ensure that the same are redressed in time-bound manner,” he said and added that a decent road is the basic right of the people and it is the responsibility of the government to ensure quality road communication facilities for the public in every area of the State.“Roads make a crucial contribution to economic development and growth and bring important social benefits to the people,” he said and added that poorly maintained roads constrain mobility, increase accident rates and their associated human and property costs, and aggravate isolation, poverty, poor health, and illiteracy. “It would be my earnest endeavor to do whatever I can to improve the road connectivity in the State,” he said.
Earlier today, the Minister convened a meeting of the officers and engineers of the Works Department to seek feedback on two complaints received by him from the citizens on Whatsapp regarding dilapidated condition of Dunaadi-Bujwan Road in district Kishtwar and Srinagar-Sumbal-Bandipora road in Kashmir. Commissioner Secretary R&B Department, Rohit Kansal, MD JKPCC, Dileep Thussu, Chief Engineer R&B Jammu, Alok Mengi, Chief Engineer PMGSY Jammu, P L Bushan and other officers of R&B Department were present at the meeting.Taking a serious note of the terrible condition of 13 KM long Dunaadi-Bujwan road which was taken up for upgradation under CRF in 2010 at an estimated cost of Rs 11 crore, the Minister ordered an inquiry by Chief Engineer R&B Department Jammu. He has been asked to submit the report within 15 days.The Minister, meanwhile, asked the Jammu and Kashmir Projects Construction Corporation (JKPCC) to immediately start work on this road and show results within three months.Regarding Srinagar-Sumbal-Bandipora Road, the Minister said that the matter will be taken up with Border Roads Organization (BRO), which is presently maintaining the road for immediate upgradation. “If BRO has any issues in this regard, the road will be transferred to R&B Department for maintenance,” he said and added that he will be personally taking up the matter with BRO authorities.“I assure the people of Bandipora and its adjoining areas that they will get one of the best roads soon,” he said.