Minister for Public Works, (PWD) Naeem Akhtar today reviewed the physical and financial achievements of various road and bridge projects under various state and centrally sponsored schemes including NABARD, Central Road Fund (CSS) and other regular projects.The Minister, while chairing a meeting held in this regard, directed the engineers to install modernized sign boards and crash barriers especially on national highways and hilly routes to minimize road mishaps.Commissioner Secretary Public Works (R&B) Sanjeev Verma, Chief Engineer R&B, Sudhir Shah, Chief Engineer PMGSY, Managing Director, JKPCC, Superintending Engineers, Executive Engineers and other senior officers attended the meeting.It was informed in the meeting that 118 projects costing Rs. 1812.86 crore were sanctioned under Central Road Fund (CRF), of which, 44 have been completed while work on remaining 74 projects is in progress.
The Minister reviewed the progress on various road projects including Bamyal to Deva Mai Temple, R S Pura - Suchetgarh road up to 4 laning km 1 to 7 RD 800, Bantalab to Aghore, Kunjwani to Satwari, Airport to R S Pura, widening of Utterbani Purmandal road via Mandal, approach road and underpass for AIIMS at Vijaypur, Devak Hathal road in Rajouri, construction of 32 mtr span double lane bridge at Rajouri, Samba Sumb road, Bani to Billawar and other roads and bridge projects of Jammu region.The Minister asked the engineers to follow deadlines and show remarkable results so that the vital road projects would be completed in a time bound manner. He further directed the concerned engineers to review progress on these projects regularly and blacklist those contractors who are not showing up satisfactory performance.
Under Cities and Towns Plan, the Minister was informed that during current financial year 2017-18, 661.93 km road length has been macadamized.
Naeem Akhtar said that providing road connectivity, construction of quality and safe roads, bridges and tunnels for sustainable and inclusive socio-economic growth is priority of the government. The Minister asked officials to review the delayed construction and development projects so that they too are completed at the earliest.Referring to initiatives of the government to give an aesthetic look to state’s tourist destinations, the Minister asked the officers to accord equal focus on beautification aspects while implementing road works.