Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, May 17: Minister for Public Works and Parliamentary Affairs, Abdul Rehman Veeri, today said that concerted efforts are underway to develop road connectivity in the State, including the desert districts of Leh and Kargil.
Addressing a high level meeting, convened here to review the progress of various roads being built by R&B Department under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojna (PMGSY) in Ladakh region, the Minister said better road connectivity is key component of development in rural areas.
Minister for Cooperative, Tresing Dorjey, Legislators, Asgar Ali Karbalai and Mohammad Baqir Rizvi, Chairman, Hill Council, Leh and Executive Councilor, Hill Council, Kargil also attended the meeting. Besides Commissioner Secretary, R&B, Rohit Kansal, Director Planning (R&B), Tariq Ahmad, Chief Engineers and SEs of R&B and PMGSY of Ladakh division and other senior officers were present.
The meeting was informed that 71 road projects have been taken up in Ladakh division at an estimated cost of Rs 355 crore of which 55 schemes connecting 41 habitations have been completed and work is in progress on 16 schemes, which are at different stages of completion.
Reviewing the R&B sector in Kargil district, the Minister was informed that the district has total road length of 1083 km of which 556 km have been upgraded. He was informed that in the last financial year, Rs 24.54 crore have been incurred under plan allocation in Kargil district for execution of various development projects.
It was revealed in the meeting that under NABARD Loan Assistance, 17 road schemes, four irrigation schemes and four bridges are under execution in the district while Rs 6.72 crore have been incurred during the last financial year for the execution of these schemes.
Reviewing the progress under R&B sector in Leh district, the Minister was informed that the district has 2975 km of road length of which 1562 km has been either blacktopped.
The meeting was informed that under NABARD, 40 road projects and bridges costing Rs 158 crore are under execution of which Rs 92.50 crores have so far been incurred on these schemes. Officials said 24 schemes have been completed while as work is in full swing on the remaining 16 schemes.
Speaking on the occasion, the Minister asked the field functionaries of R&B and PMGSY to work with dedication and coordination to ensure time bound completion of developmental projects in far-flung areas of both the districts.
Mr Dorjey and the concerned MLAs also projected problems of the concerned areas for which the Minister gave on spot directions to the concerned engineers to address the issues on priority.
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