The development activities across this mountainous district have gained momentum post unlock with Road and Bridges department accelerating work on mega projects including Rs 64.46 crore projects funded under Languishing Project scheme. On the direction of District Development Commissioner, Dr Sagar D Doifode, the Public Works (R&B) Doda has increased men and machinery on all ongoing projects to ensure timely completion of all projects under implementation in the district.The aim is to make most of the remaining working season fruitful which got affected due to covid-19 outbreak and the subsequent lockdown.As per the department, it has resumed work on bridges, roads and buildings by adopting a robust approach to complete the targeted projects within the set time frame. “The work on major and small projects is in full swing with strict adherence to COVID-19 protection SOPs and the guidelines.Giving details of the works under execution, officials said against 31 Languishing projects costing Rs 64.46 crore, the department has completed 3 roads and 5 bridges by expending Rs 4.11 crore.The completed projects are Lamote Dranga-Bhaderwah-Bridge over Chilli Nallah at Chowan, Bridge over Chansar nallah at Mandhan, Bridge at Bhagat Mohalla, Bisran and Bridge at koti nallah, besides 3 roads namely Gatha Gwari link road and its extension, Chamba to Akhroot Bagh road and BT work on Chakka to upper Dandi stand. The department is also eyeing to complete the rest of the projects by this year end, as many of them have recorded more than 70% of physical progress, the official said.
With regard to up-gradation of educational infrastructure, the concerned authorities said that R&B divisions Doda, Bhaderwah and Gandoh have also taken up 4 important projects under the RAMSA Scheme -the construction of 100 bed girl hostels, of which 2 have been completed at an estimated cost of Rs 2.82 crore each. The work on the other two hostels is in progress.The Department has also taken up 13 road works approved under district Plan with target length of 27.11 KM costing Rs 18. 52 crore. “Of these work on 6 projects is in progress and the same is expected to complete by the end of the current financial year, while the rest are at the tendering stage and will be started soon,” the officials said.The Doda division is also constructing a 100 bed OBC hostel at Doda costing Rs 3.25 crore, which is at final stage of completion.Regarding under construction GMC Doda, it was informed that majority of the structural part has been completed with the total expenditure of Rs 57.59 crore till date, while 35% physical work has been recorded on the under construction building of teaching hospital at Doda- being constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 30 crore.The R&B Department is also executing many other projects under CRF NABARD, city and town, State sector roads and bridges, involving huge amount to create new infrastructure in the district and to provide better road connectivity to the people of the district.