Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 18: Stressing upon officials to meet deadlines and show quick results on ground, Minister for Public Works (PWD) Naeem Akhtar today said road revamp projects would gain momentum across Jammu and Kashmir in coming days.
The Minister while speaking during a maiden review meeting of the department here this morning said the Coalition Government is committed to the equitable development of all Jammu and Kashmir. He said providing connectivity, construction of quality and safe roads, bridges and tunnels for sustainable and inclusive socio-economic growth is the top priority for the Government.
The Minister directed officials to make the process of execution of works hassle-free, saying that planning, construction, up-gradation and maintenance of roads, bridges and buildings must be the concern for all the officials of the Department.
Akhtar said in order gain movement in the ongoing developmental era, the culmination of prestigious projects would help the Government to provide good governance to the people of the State. “PWD needs a professional touch and the Government will do everything to revamp this vital department,” he said.
The Minister said that infrastructure deficit has been persistent in the State because of its topography. He said that PWD could be a vital department in bridging the gap and help the State to emerge on the infrastructure front.
The meeting was attended by Commissioner Secretary Public Works (R&B) Department, Rohit Kansal, Managing Director, JKPCC, Daleep Thussu, Development Commissioner, Works, Bimal Tikoo, Chief Engineer, R&B, Jammu, Alok Mengi, CE MED, Jammu, Yograj Abrol, Chief Engineer, Mughal Road Project, Sudhir Shah, Chief Engineer SKUAST-J, T R Bhagat, CE SPD, Amraish Raina, CE ERA, Ravinder Kumar, SE PMGSY, Jammu, Sita Ram Dogra, Tariq Ahmad, Director Planning (PWD) among other senior officials of the PWD and its allied wings.
Meanwhile, Naeem Akhtar convened meeting of Jammu and Kashmir Projects Construction Corporation Ltd (JKPCC).
“I have had a brief experience of working with the Corporation and I know this Corporation has a huge potential to become a mega job provider in the State,” he said, adding “the Corporation can also be viable for the large pool of unemployed engineers, whose services could be utilized for the state’s development”.
Akhtar asked the officials to prepare a ‘Growth Plan’ for the Corporation and provide a sketch to the Government on how the organization could be revamped on a large scale. He called for taking the agency to the national level. He said an organization of this size which has been able to generate Rs 400 crore could be pushed to generate Rs 4000 crore revenue. He asked the J&K Projects Construction Corporation officials to work on the convergence model and pool in all the efforts for bringing transparency and viability of the projects undertaken by it.
Akhtar asked the officials that the arbitrary allotment of works must be stopped immediately and e-tendering process should be followed to maintain quality and ensure timely execution of projects.
Later, the Minister expressed concern over the delay in completion of several projects being executed by JKPCC. “You have a team of professionals which must work under deadlines for proper execution of works,” he asked the concerned.
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