Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Sept 20: While stressing that highways are the lifeline of J&K, Minister for Public Works and Parliamentary Affairs, Abdul Rehman Veeri today asked all the major road construction agencies to expedite work and meet the deadlines of the ongoing projects at any cost.
The direction was passed in a meeting chaired by the Minister. The meeting was attended by Commissioner Secretary R&B Rohit Kansal, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Development Commissioner (Works), Regional Director, NHAI(J&K), Chief Engineer Project Beacon, Chief Engineer PMGSY Kashmir, Chief Engineer MED Kashmir, Chief Engineer R&B Kashmir, Managing Director JKPCC, Project Director NHAI, PIU Srinagar/Jammu, senior officers of Forests, Revenue Departments and different companies involved in up gradation, construction and widening of road projects.
The companies which were represented in the meeting included Project Director of Navayuga, Ramky Infr, IL&FS, Gammon India Ltd, HCCL &APCO Infra Ltd.
The Minister asked the Divisional Commissioners of Kashmir and Jammu to coordinate with the concerned agencies and facilitate speedy construction of road projects. He also asked officers to work out all formalities on priority basis on legal issues with the concerned departments.
While deliberating upon the nitty-gritty of different factors of projects, the Minister passed strict directions to the construction companies to adhere to the deadline.
Regarding the maintenance of existing roads, the Minister reminded them that it is the responsibility of the road construction companies working on four lanning of highway to maintain existing roads.
He directed the Beacon authorities and representatives of all the construction companies to keep all the men and machinery ready for the road clearance during winter due to landslides and snow avalanches.
The Minister reviewed the progress of construction on different stretches of highway where work is under progress by different agencies. Those reviewed included four lanning of Jammu-Udhampur, 4-lanning of Chennani Nashri 89.00 to 130.00 km of NH-IA including 9km tunnel, 4-lanning of Qazigund-Banihal 189. 350km to 220.700 including 8.4 km tunnel, Z-Morh Tunnel, Nashri- Ramban stretch, Sumbal- Sonawari road, Batote- Kishtwar road.
Regarding the progress of the Nashri tunnel, the executing agency assured that 90.35 % work has been completed and it will be ready for plying of traffic by November end. The executing agency assured the Minister that Qazigund-Banihal tunnel will meet the June 2018 deadline.
The Minister expressed urgency in the up gradation of Batote- Kishtwar road and impressed upon the officers that the only road link to the region need to be upgraded and maintained on war footing basis.
He also directed the divisional administration to identify dumping sites for usage by the construction companies and resolve all the compensation issues with the stakeholders.
Representatives of different departments assured the Minister of cooperation to pave way for speedy completion of projects.
The Minister assured the management of construction companies that issue of forest clearance and dumping sites will be taken up with concerned authorities.
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