Chief Secretary, Mr. B. R. Sharma, visited various places along the Srinagar-Banihal section of the National Highway and reviewed the pace of work on the four-laning of the National Highway.The Chief Secretary was accompanied by Commissioner Secretary, R&B, Mr. Rohit Kansal, Deputy Commissioner, Anantnag, Dr. Syed Abid Rasheed Shah, DIG South Kashmir, Mr. G. H. Bhat, SP Anantnag, ADC Anantnag, SE R&B, EXNs and officers of RAMKY and NAVYUG and other district officers.During his visit to critical junctions of the National Highway, the Chief Secretary stressed on the concerned agency to expedite the four-laning so that targeted works are completed in this limited working season.He directed the RAMKY authorities to mobilize all its manpower in order to meet the specified time limit. He also directed the officials of the executing agency to complete black-topping on all busy sections before the onset of winter.
The Chief Secretary started its visit from Pujteng area of the district and visited critical junctions, like Sangam, Bijbehara, Mirbazar and Qazigund. During the visit, the Deputy Commissioner apprised the Chief Secretary that land acquisition for the national highway has been made in 40 villages of the district and compensation to the tune of Rs 284 crore has been given to this effect. He informed that all court cases regarding the land compensation have been disposed off.Later, the Chief Secretary visited the north portal of the new tunnel at Qazigund, which is being constructed by NAVYUG. While chairing a meeting on the site, he directed the NAVYUG authorities to gear up the pending construction work and enjoined upon them to mobilize all its skilled/unskilled labour for the construction of the tunnel. Simultaneously, he directed the Deputy Commissioner and SP to provide the requisite logistics to the concerned agency so that timely completion of the tunnel is ensured. The Deputy Commissioner assured that he shall depute an ITBP battalion and J&K police to the site.