Minister for Public Works Department Naeem Akhtar and Minister for Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs and Tribal Affairs Chowdhary Zulfkar Ali laid foundation stones for macadamisation of 130 KM of road length in Rajouri incurring Rs 75 crore expenditure.The foundation stones were laid for 71 KM roads in R&B sector including Kandi-Hubbi, Rehan-Demote, Samote-Targain, Nadia-Badanoon, Tralla-Sanukote, Koteranka-JNV Kandi Upper-BagyalKote, Mandirgala-Panjnara, Samote-Upper Samote, Gadyog-Chika Khater, Tarkassi-Gakhrote via Peeri, KoteDhara-Panhad and Mohra-Jahlano roads whereas 59 KM roads in PMGSY Sector which included Khandigali-Kanthol, ProriGujjran-GuraSarkari, Khawas-Dalheri, KM 14 of K K-Bhainamble, LO23-Shahpur and KM 7 L025-Pehra roads.Addressing a public meeting at Koteranka after laying foundation of road upgradations, the Works Minister said that concerted efforts are being made by the government to provide enhanced connectivity in the remotest corners of the state under various schemes such as Central Road Fund, Pradhan Mantri GraminSadak Yojana, NABARD etc.
Responding to the demand for news roads and completion of already taken up roads, the Minister informed that 800 KMs of road length in PMGSY division Budhal will be completed in current financial year. The Minister also announced Rs 12 Cr for Kha-Khanariyaan road and Rs 4 Cr for Dalheri bridge. He also informed that the DPR for Budhal-Shopian road is being prepared and it is the government’sendeavor to start work on it as soon as possible. Directions were also given to concerned to prepare DPR for Palma-Mandir Gala road.In his address, Chowdhary Zulfkar said the government is aware of challenges being faced by public of far off areas with Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti personally visiting all such areas of the state. He said the major projects in likes of GMC, BGSBU, Engineering & ITI College, Ans Irrigation Canal, Rajouri-Koteranka and Koteranka-Khawas roads etc will go a long way in mitigating issues related to road infrastructure, water supply, health and education. He also thanked the Chief Minister for sanctioning four posts of ADC in Rajouri as it will strengthen the administrative supervision of development works for their timely completion.
The Ministers also inspected work on various key development projects like Patli Qila Eco Park, Gujjar-Bakerwal Hostel at Koteranka, Koteranka-Khawas and Koteranka-Hubbi Gala-MarasiMorh roads and directed the concerned to complete the work within stipulated time to avoid cost overrun. Directions were given to the concerned to take up the work for construction of wayside amenities on Koteranka-Khawas road. Date of August 15, 2018 was fixed for inauguration of 3.82 Cr G&B Hostel building at Koteranka by the minister.Taking serious note of non-completion of Hubbi Gala-BhagyalKote due to cost overrun, Works minister directed SE PWD to submit a detailed report in the matter so that responsibility is fixed and action initiated against the erring official besides initiating action for blacklisting the contractor for leaving the work on Kandi-JNV road midway.DDC Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary, MD JKPCC Waqar Shunthu, SSP Yougal Manhas, SE PWD Majid Khan, SE PMGSY A K Gandotra, Addl DC Koteranka Shafiq Ahmed, Ex-Ens of engineering departments were among other district and Sectoral officers who accompanied the ministers on their daylong visit of Koteranka.