Omar reviews progress on big ticket projects

Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Oct 16: Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah today reviewed the status of progress on various big ticket projects being implemented in the State by ERA under Asian Development Bank funding.
Chairing 18th Governing Body meeting of J&K Economic Reconstruction Agency (ERA), the Chief Minister received complete brief about pace of progress on various works and the time frame fixed for their completion.
Political Advisor to the Chief Minister, Devinder Singh Rana, MLA Ashwani Kumar, Chief Secretary, Madhav Lal, Principal Secretary Finance, M. I. Khandey, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, B. B. Vyas, Principal Secretary Housing, Suresh Kumar, Commissioner Secretary R&B, Tanveer Jehan, Chief Executive Officer, ERA, Saurav Bhagat and other senior officers participated in the meeting.
Emphasizing on timely completion of works, the Chief Minister directed ERA for fast tracking the projects including construction of modern multi-tier parking at KMD Adda, Srinagar, Jahangir Chowk and Bikram Chowk flyovers, Talab Tillo sewerage scheme, storm water drainage projects at Athwajan, Digiana and Channi Himmat, procurement of solid waste management equipment for Srinagar Municipal Corporation, procurement of water tankers and strengthening of water supply system in Jammu city.
Describing these projects of greater public service importance, the Chief Minister said that the progress on these projects should be as per a well planned schedule, adding that work should move ahead as per a fixed bar chart. He also directed for physical auditing of projects.
The Chief Minister said that the contractors responsible for unnecessary delays and failures in completing the works within the prescribed time frame should be black listed. He said that laxities and casual approach by such contractors should not be tolerated.
The Chief Minister also laid stress on proper rehabilitation of shopkeepers and householders whose establishments come under infrastructural development schemes. “You should take full care of these people and ensure their up to the mark rehabilitation”, he directed to the concerned stressing on speeding up pace on creation of alternate shopping complexes for the affected shopkeepers.
In a PowerPoint presentation, the CEO ERA gave a resume of the achievements registered by ERA and detailed account of the works being taken in hand shortly. He said that Rs. 1440 crore have been expended by ERA on various projects till September this year, adding that further Rs. 200 crore are being spent on these projects.
Saurav Bhagat said that as many as 56 road and bridge projects have been completed by ERA during the current financial year and many more are in pipeline. He said that the tangible objects under loan-I include water supply augmentation for Srinagar, water supply augmentation for Jammu, upgradation of roads in Srinagar and upgradation of roads in Jammu.