Irfan Tramboo
SRINAGAR, Dec 14: Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary today said that the elected Government is on toes and will ensure seamless facilities for the people of J&K during the winter season.
Speaking with reporters after chairing a high-level meeting at the Civil Secretariat here to review the preparedness for snow clearance operations, Choudhary said that people will notice a tangible difference on the ground.
“We will ensure the necessary facilities to the people of Kashmir as well as Jammu. People must know that their Government is on toes and will ensure that they do not face difficulties,” he said.
He added that the meeting was held on the directions of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, emphasizing, “It shows how sensitive he is for these issues, to ensure that people do not face difficulties.” Click here to watch video
The deputy Chief Minister also said, “officers are the face of the Government, and we hope that they will work in a different way, not how they worked in the last 10 years.”
“This winter preparedness plan is vital to ensure the safety and well-being of the citizens of Jammu and Kashmir. It is our collective responsibility to ensure uninterrupted services and timely response to emergencies,” he said.
During the meeting, he stressed the importance of having an effective and coordinated mechanism in place to ensure snow clearance within the shortest possible time.
A detailed winter action plan was presented, outlining the smooth functioning of essential services and connectivity across the Union Territory, particularly in snow-prone areas.
It was informed that as a matter of priority, the Mechanical Engineering Division (MED) will oversee the clearance of 10,223 km of roads, with 6,728 km categorized as Priority-1. This includes highways, hospital routes, and roads leading to critical infrastructure.
Additionally, PMGSY has finalized contracts for snow clearance on 4,042 km of rural roads, with four more contracts under process, the meeting was informed.
It was also reported that 310 snow clearance machines have been mobilized by MED, up from 254 machines last year. Furthermore, 293 operational staff have been deployed, compared to 231 last year, to handle challenging conditions.
Key roads and highways, such as NH-44 (Banihal-Qazigund), Mughal Road, Bandipora-Gurez Road, and Patnitop routes, were identified as critical areas requiring special focus.
Ensuring uninterrupted supply chains for LPG, petroleum, and essential commodities was highlighted as a priority.
The meeting was attended by several MLAs from constituencies including Kangan, Sonawari, Gulmarg, Uri, Sopore, Pattan, Baramulla, Pampore, Beerwah, Shopian, Pahalgam, Anantnag East, and Chanapora, along with Divisional Commissioners of Kashmir and Jammu, Deputy Commissioners of all districts, Chief Engineers, and other senior officers from the Public Works (R&B) Department, Mechanical Engineering Division (MED), PMGSY, NHIDCL and BRO.
BRO, NHIDCL, and PWD (R&B) highlighted the availability of snow cutters, dozers, and graders to maintain road connectivity.
Additionally, SMC and Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) presented their readiness to handle city roads with 422 machines, including de-watering pumps and de-icing materials.
The Deputy Chief minister emphasized the need for inter-departmental coordination and directed all Deputy Commissioners to monitor ground-level operations through regular virtual meetings.
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